User participation in co-design–requirements for accessible online collaboration : an exploratory study

The aim of this study was to describe prerequisites for online collaboration for user participation in co-design of online digital services as perceived by people with impairments and to develop requirements for how online collaboration should be designed to be accessible for all participants. An exploratory study was conducted in parallel to activities in two co-design projects. Researchers, accessibility experts, designers and 31 members of disability organisations participated. All participants had lived experience of impairments. Data was co-analysed by all participants using a qualitative thematic analysis with an inductive approach. Sixty-three requirements for accessible online collaboration were identified pertaining to four themes: digital tools and accessibility; preparation of an online collaboration activity; performing and participating in an online collaboration activity; and documenting and evaluating an online collaboration activity. Conclusion: the co-design process can be strengthened by transition to online collaboration, owing to the possibility of having more frequent interaction, economising the participants’ energy and the design process being more transparent. Using accessible online tools, careful planning, and meeting preparation, and establishing a trustful and convivial atmosphere during each activity, are the cornerstones for accessible online collaboration. People with impairment can participate in online collaboration if the activities meet accessibility requirements

Phytoplankton community dynamics in a changing world : Ecological drivers of Microcystis and Naiadinium polonicum dominance

Lakes provide critical ecosystem services and are therefore particularly sensitive to disruptions such as harmful algal blooms (HABs). Cyanobacteria are the most common HAB-forming species in lakes, and their prevalence is expected to increase with climate change. However, during a 2018 heatwave in southern Sweden, Lake Vombsjön experienced an unexpected shift from its usual cyanobacterial dominance to a bloom of the dinoflagellate Naiadinium polonicum. This event provided a rare opportunity to examine how ecological drivers shape the population dynamics of cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates, two groups predicted to do well under future climate change scenarios due to shared functional traits, though freshwater dinoflagellates remain comparatively understudied. In particular, this thesis focuses on Microcystis, a toxin-producing cyanobacterium of global importance, and N. polonicum, a bloom-forming dinoflagellate whose autoecology is largely unresolved. Across the first three papers, I examined field biomass dynamics, recruitment and growth responses to temperature, and allelopathic interactions between Microcystis and N. polonicum. In Lake Vombsjön, N. polonicum biomass was associated with higher temperatures, elevated soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations, water column stratification, and anoxic conditions near the sediment surface. While higher temperatures in 2018 did not directly enhance N. polonicum growth, temperature-dependent recruitment from sediments likely allowed it to establish earlier than Microcystis, whose recruitment was temperature independent. These findings point to seasonal timing as a key determinant of species dominance. Co-culture experiments revealed no evidence that N. polonicum inhibited Microcystis, whereas Microcystis was able to suppress N. polonicum growth at ecologically relevant densities. In my fourth paper, I focused on Microcystis and identified abiotic and biotic factors favoring toxigenic strains in natural populations. Toxigenic strains were associated with elevated nitrogen concentrations, consistent with the high nitrogen demands of microcystins, while microcystin concentrations were most strongly linked to phosphorus availability and overall Microcystis biomass, supporting dual nutrient reduction strategies to mitigate toxic blooms. Together, these results highlight two broader implications. First, freshwater dinoflagellates remain underrepresented in phytoplankton ecology despite evidence that they may become more prominent under future climate conditions, potentially impacting cyanobacteria bloom dynamics. Second, benthic life stages, particularly recruitment from sediments, must be incorporated into future research on cyanobacterial HABs. As climate change drives phenological shifts and alters pelagic conditions, understanding benthic-pelagic links will be essential for predicting and managing HAB events

Opinion Formation and Political Polarization

·Public opinion is essential for democratic societies, but social media changes how opinion is formed. ·Affective polarization – the phenomenon that individuals develop strong emotional attachments to their own political group and strong dislike and bias toward political outgroups – is growing in many democratic societies. ·Affective polarization may make individuals more susceptible to believe in and share political misinformation, suggesting that this type of polarization may be detrimental for information processing and information sharing in democratic societies. ·Another potential consequence of affective polarization is that it may influence what political opinions individuals take on various issues, and that it may increase ideological polarization in the electorate, for example on issues like climate chang

Optimism and pragmatism in mission cities: Exploring narratives for climate neutrality in Stockholm and Amsterdam

Climate neutrality of cities has emerged as a critical goal for sustainable urban development. This is typified by the mission in the European Union (EU) to achieve 100 climate neutral and smart cities by 2030. The idea of carbon or climate neutrality holds diverse interpretations. This paper investigates the dominant socio-technical imaginary for urban climate neutrality within the context of the EU Cities Mission, focusing on the cities of Stockholm and Amsterdam. Through narrative analysis of interviews and documents six key narratives are identified: 1) sustainable mobility and transport, 2) community engagement and just transition, 3) frontrunners in urban climate action, 4) the city as an experiment, 5) green economy and business innovation, and 6) the city as a complex system. This paper sheds light on the overlaps and contradictions between the narratives, suggesting opportunities for integrated policies centred on justice, leadership and experimentation. The analysis also reveals contrasting perspectives on the 2030 goal – namely an optimistic approach in the case of Stockholm and a pragmatic approach in the case of Amsterdam

Characterization of Visceral Adipose Tissue Proteome Reveals Metabolic Changes and Inflammatory Signatures in Severe Obesity

Objective: Severe obesity poses a major public health concern due to its links with cardiometabolic complications and mortality. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) plays a key role in these processes through distinct molecular features. This study aimed to characterize the VAT proteome of individuals with severe obesity and investigate its association with serum metabolic biomarkers. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was performed for 46 individuals with severe obesity undergoing metabolic bariatric surgery and 17 healthy controls undergoing elective abdominal surgery. VAT proteomes were analyzed using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS), and serum metabolites were quantified using nuclear magnetic resonance–based metabolomics. Results: LC–MS/MS identified 22 differentially expressed proteins (FDR < 0.05) in VAT with 12 downregulated and 10 upregulated in severe obesity. Downregulated proteins included mitochondrial enzymes involved in substrate metabolism and mitochondrial transmembrane transport. Circulating glucose, valine, and isoleucine correlated negatively with VAT mitochondrial transmembrane and electron transport proteins. Upregulated proteins were associated with inflammation, immune activation, oxidative stress, cytoskeletal remodeling, and protein turnover. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate significant molecular alterations in the VAT proteome associated with severe obesity, providing insights into the underlying mechanisms of metabolic disease. The differentially expressed proteins may serve as biomarkers or therapeutic targets for obesity-related complications. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT00793143 and NCT01373892

Effect of sodium taurodeoxycholate on PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer F127 with incorporated SNAP : Insights into micellization, gelation, and nitric oxide release

We report the first incorporation of S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) into micellar systems of the poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) triblock copolymer Pluronic® F127 for nitric oxide (NO) delivery and show how sodium taurodeoxycholate (NaTDC) modulates F127 micellization and gelation. Using differential scanning calorimetry, small-angle X-ray scattering, rheology, dynamic light scattering, UV–vis spectroscopy, and chemiluminescence NO analysis, we identify two NaTDC-dependent regimes. At low NaTDC/F127 ratios (MR ≤ ∼1.2), NaTDC associates with F127 micelles, lowering the critical micellization temperature and modestly compacting the PPO cores. At higher ratios (MR ≥ ∼3.8), micellization becomes less cooperative, small bile salt–rich complexes form, and at 25 wt% F127, the gel nanostructure transitions from face-centered cubic phase to body-centered cubic phase and eventually loses long-range order (MR ∼6.2). SNAP load does not alter micellization, locates at the core–corona interface, and shows enhanced solubility that depends more on F127 concentration than on NaTDC. Thermal NO release from SNAP (25 °C, dark) follows second-order kinetics, slowing as F127 concentration increases (1–25 wt%), resulting in prolonged NO release. These findings contribute to advancing the understanding of the behavior of PEO-PPO-PEO/NaTDC micellar systems, by demonstrating how NaTDC regulates micellization and gelation. Moreover, the finding that F127 concentration controls SNAP stability and NO-release kinetics, makes the F127/NaTDC system a potential modular platform for sustained and localized NO delivery

What do we mean with integrated risk management? : A research profiling comparing DRM and other fields of risk management

The concept of integrated risk management (IRM) has developed as a response to more interconnected and complex contexts. To investigate how the concept is used and what is meant with integration in the scientific literature, a research profiling was carried out across all kinds of risk management applications. 1094 publications from scientific journals, conference proceedings, and books were included. The study period of 21 years showed a steady increase in the use of IRM, especially for risk management in the private sector and for natural hazard risks. 634 of the publications were published in 331 different journals, representing a large range of scientific disciplines. Only 30 % of the publications were connected by internal referencing. 86 different specific risks were identified and clustered into seven risk clusters. Two major types of integration were identified: firstly, of different aspects of the risk itself or within the risk management process, and secondly, between the risk management process and a wider context of other objectives and processes related to business, society, or ecosystems. The integration of natural hazard risks mainly was in relation to societal processes and ecosystems, whereas integration of business-related risks took place mainly within the business sector. Overall, the literature on IRM is fragmented, with a few exceptions where discourses have developed around certain risks like flood risk and enterprise risk. The development of a more general understanding of integration across different fields of risk management would benefit analyses and decision-making in an increasingly interconnected world

Managing coastal aquifer salinity risks : Strategies for balance, recharge, and crop adaptation

The aim of this study was to assess aquifer salinity risk by identifying high-risk land-use zones and proposing a new paradigm for groundwater resource management under salinization pressure. Salinity risk modeling was conducted with consideration of land-use patterns and agricultural production in the study region. The results revealed that approximately 26% of the aquifer lies within high-risk salinity zones. To mitigate this risk, three management strategies were evaluated: water balancing, crop pattern adaptation, and aquifer recharge. Implementation of these strategies reduced the extent of high and very high salinity risk areas by 6%, 9%, and 12.5%, respectively. Similarly, the maximum intensity of salinity risk decreased by 13%, 35%, and 52%, while the average intensity declined by 9%, 14%, and 55% under the balancing, adaptation, and recharge scenarios, respectively. These findings demonstrate that integrated groundwater management approaches, particularly recharge enhancement, can substantially reduce salinity risk and improve the resilience of coastal aquifers