Sustaining local manufacturing: a longitudinal study of Swedish companies

This paper reports an investigation of local sustainable production in Sweden aimed at exploring the factors contributing to survival and competitiveness of manufacturing. Eight companies were studied on two occasions 30 years apart; in 1980 and 2010. To provide a valid longitudinal, perspective a common format for data collection was used. As a framework for data collection and analysis the DRAMA methodology was employed (Bennett and Forrester, 1990). There are a number of results reported in detail concerning long term competitiveness and sustainability of manufacturing companies

Aggregation behavior of cationic fluorosurfactants in water and salt solutions. A CryoTEM survey

金沢大学理工研究域物質化学系The aggregation behavior of the cationic fluorocarbon surfactants 1,1,2,2-tetrahydroperfluoroalkylpyridinium chloride and 2-hydroxy-1,1,2,3,3-pentahydroperfluoroalkyldiethylammonium chloride in aqueous solution have been studied using cryo-transmission electron microscopy as the main technique. The effects on aggregate structure of factors such as surfactant and salt concentration, counterion type, and alkyl chain length were investigated. Similar to hydrocarbon surfactants the fluorocarbon surfactants self-assemble into various aggregates such as micelles, threadlike micelles, vesicles, and other lamellar aggregates. A distinctive property of the fluorocarbon surfactants is their tendency to form structures with little curvature, such as cylindrical micelles and bilayer structures. Even a very small reduction of the repulsion between the headgroups is sufficient to accomplish a sphere to rod transition, so that a solution of globular micelles in water is turned into a highly viscous, sometimes viscoelastic solution on the addition of low concentrations of a simple salt. The differences between the fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon surfactants are discussed. © 1999 American Chemical Society

Contrast variation SANS investigation of composition distributions in mixed surfactant micelles

金沢大学理工研究域物質化学系Small angle neutron scattering measurements have been performed on three systems (HFDeP-d5-C (N-1(1,1,2,2-tetrahydroperfluorodecanoyl)pyridinium-d5 chloride)/C16PC in 63 mM NaCl; HFDeP-d5-C/C12PC in 200 mM NaCl, and as an example of an ideally mixed system, SDS/SDS-d25 in 200 mM NaCl) containing micelles formed in a binary mixture of surfactants, in order to investigate the composition distribution of the mixed micelles. The experimental data were collected varying the contrast between the average scattering length density of micelles and aqueous solvent by changing the H2O/D 2O ratio. Analysis of data includes a model-independent approach - the indirect Fourier transformation method and direct modeling - simultaneous fit at all contrasts by the scattering from micelles of equal size and shape with composition distribution and an effective interaction. It has earlier been shown (Almgren, M.; Garamus, V. M. J. Phys. Chem. B 2005, 109, 11348) that for micelles of equal size, independent of the composition, and with negligible intermicellar interactions, the scattered intensity at zero angle varies quadratically with the contrast, with the minimum intensity at the nominal match point proportional to σ2, the variance of the micelle composition distribution. Within the regular solution framework, the composition distribution and its variance are uniquely defined by the value of the interaction parameter and the micelle aggregation number. At 25°C, the first system gave σ = 0.37, corresponding to a broad, bimodal composition distribution, the second σ = 0.22, a broad distribution with a shallow minimum at the midpoint. For SDS/SDS-d25, we found σ = 0.006 ± 0.030, which is a smaller value than that of the binominal composition distribution expected for an ideally mixed system. © 2007 American Chemical Society

Self-Assembly in Monoelaidin Aqueous Dispersions: Direct Vesicles to Cubosomes Transition

Background: In the present study, synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and Cryo-TEM were used to characterize the temperature-induced structural transitions of monoelaidin (ME) aqueous dispersion in the presence of the polymeric stabilizer F127. We prove that the direct transition from vesicles to cubosomes by heating this dispersion is possible. The obtained results were compared with the fully hydrated bulk ME phase. Methodology/principal findings: Our results indicate the formation of ME dispersion, which is less stable than that based on the congener monoolein (MO). In addition, the temperature-dependence behavior significantly differs from the fully hydrated bulk phase. SAXS findings indicate a direct L(alpha)-V(2) internal transition in the dispersion. While the transition temperature is conserved in the dispersion, the formed cubosomes with internal Im3m symmetry clearly contain more water and this ordered interior is retained over a wider temperature range as compared to its fully hydrated bulk system. At 25 degrees C, Cryo-TEM observations reveal the formation of most likely closely packed onion-like vesicles. Above the lamellar to non-lamellar phase transition at 65 degrees C, flattened cubosomes with an internal nanostructure are observed. However, they have only arbitrary shapes and thus, their morphology is significantly different from that of the well-shaped analogous MO cubosome and hexosome particles. Conclusions/significance: Our study reveals a direct liposomes-cubosomes transition in ME dispersion. The obtained results suggest that the polymeric stabilizer F127 especially plays a significant role in the membrane fusion processes. F127 incorporates in considerable amount into the internal nanostructure and leads to the formation of a highly swollen Im3m phase

Novel subgroups of adult-onset diabetes and their association with outcomes : a data-driven cluster analysis of six variables

Background Diabetes is presently classified into two main forms, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, but type 2 diabetes in particular is highly heterogeneous. A refined classification could provide a powerful tool to individualise treatment regimens and identify individuals with increased risk of complications at diagnosis. Methods We did data-driven cluster analysis (k-means and hierarchical clustering) in patients with newly diagnosed diabetes (n=8980) from the Swedish All New Diabetics in Scania cohort. Clusters were based on six variables (glutamate decarboxylase antibodies, age at diagnosis, BMI, HbA(1c), and homoeostatic model assessment 2 estimates of beta-cell function and insulin resistance), and were related to prospective data from patient records on development of complications and prescription of medication. Replication was done in three independent cohorts: the Scania Diabetes Registry (n=1466), All New Diabetics in Uppsala (n=844), and Diabetes Registry Vaasa (n=3485). Cox regression and logistic regression were used to compare time to medication, time to reaching the treatment goal, and risk of diabetic complications and genetic associations. Findings We identified five replicable clusters of patients with diabetes, which had significantly different patient characteristics and risk of diabetic complications. In particular, individuals in cluster 3 (most resistant to insulin) had significantly higher risk of diabetic kidney disease than individuals in clusters 4 and 5, but had been prescribed similar diabetes treatment. Cluster 2 (insulin deficient) had the highest risk of retinopathy. In support of the clustering, genetic associations in the clusters differed from those seen in traditional type 2 diabetes. Interpretation We stratified patients into five subgroups with differing disease progression and risk of diabetic complications. This new substratification might eventually help to tailor and target early treatment to patients who would benefit most, thereby representing a first step towards precision medicine in diabetes.Peer reviewe

Problematiken kring gränsöverskridande resultatregleringar

Förvirringen angående vad som gäller gränsöverskridande resultatutjämningar, som råder inom EU och medlemsstaterna, är en logisk implikation av att man inte kan ha en partiell överstatlig lagstiftning där de direkta skatterna inom medlems¬staterna är undantagna EG: s jurisdiktion. Konsekvensen blir att man istället kan och måste använda sig av EU: s regelverk kring de fyra friheterna när man i EG-domstolen fattar beslut som rör de direkta skatterna. Det är obestridligt, anser vi, att behovet finns av ett samstämmigt skattesystem inom EU. Det finns många signaler på att utvecklingen går mot detta håll. Som exempel kan nämnas den aktuella domen angående Marks & Spencer. Risken eller chansen, beroende på vilket synsätt man har, är att domarna blir alltför snäva och därför bara kan tillämpas på det aktuella fallet, och att de blir alltför tandlösa och verkningslösa av det skälet

Studies on the gamma radiation environment in Sweden with special reference to 137Cs

Gamma radiation in the environment today mainly originates from naturally occurring radionuclides, but anthropogenic radionuclides, such as 137Cs, contribute in some areas. In order to assess population exposure in case of fallout from nuclear weapons (NWF) or accidents, knowledge and monitoring of external gamma radiation and radionuclide concentrations in the environment is important. For this purpose 34 sampling sites were established in western Sweden and repeated soil sampling, field gamma spectrometry (in situ measurements), and dose rate measurements were performed. The variations in the activities between the different sampling occasions were found to be quite large. The naturally occurring radionuclides were the main source of outdoor dose rates. The uranium and thorium decay series contributed about equally to the total dose while the contribution from 40K was somewhat higher. The dose rates were mainly correlated to the ground cover, with higher levels on asphalt and cobble stones than on grass. The large scale deposition densities from NWF and the Chernobyl accident could be relatively well estimated by a model including the amount of precipitation and measured deposition at few reference sites. The deposition density from nuclear weapons tests in Sweden between 1962 and 1966 was found to be 1.42-2.70 kBq/m2 and the deposition density from Chernobyl in western Sweden ranged between 0.82-2.61 kBq/m2. The vertical migration of 137Cs was studied at the sampling sites in western Sweden and a solution to the convection–diffusion equation (CDE) was fitted to depth profiles. The vertical migration of 137Cs was found to be very slow and diffusive transport was dominant at most locations. The apparent convection velocity and diffusion coefficient were found to be 0–0.35 cm/year and 0.06–2.63 cm2/year, respectively. The average depth of the maximum activity was 5.4±2.2 cm. The fitted depth distributions for each location were used to correct in situ measurements and the results agreed relatively well with the 137Cs inventories in soil samples. A widespread deposition of radionuclides was caused by the Chernobyl accident and parts of Sweden were highly affected. Today, approximately 20 years since the latest deposition, 137Cs can still be measured in the environment and contributes to additional doses to people. However, today people generally spend much time in their dwellings, and therefore, the radiation environment indoors is more important for the personal exposure. Dwelling and personal dose rate measurements in western Sweden (means: 0.099±0.035 µSv/h and 0.094±0.017 µSv/h, respectively) showed that concrete dwellings yield higher dose rates than those of wood. Measurements in a region with a high 137Cs deposition (Hille in eastern Sweden) showed somewhat higher dose rates in wooden dwellings than in western Sweden (0.033 µSv/h and 0.025 µSv/h higher, respectively). The additional contribution from the Chernobyl 137Cs fallout in Hille was estimated to be about 0.2 mSv/year

Coridendro : Ett verktyg för att grafiskt åskådliggöra incidensen av malignt melanom inom olika släkter

The county council of Värmland is taking part in a larger project which in general consists of surveying malign melanoma within different families. Counties in Sweden are following-up on patients suffering from malign melanoma, which is likely to have inheritable causes. When a suspected heritable malign melanoma is found an investigation is started. A pedigree is drawn, describing the propositus’ family. Every individual in the pedigree is represented by a symbol. The appearance of this symbol is determined by: unhealthy/healthy, diseased/alive, man/woman. When the individuals have been identified and the according symbols drawn, the symbols are connected by lines representing kinship. Today the pedigrees are drawn by hand using pen and paper. This is a time consuming task and the appearance differ depending on who is drawing the pedigree. The result of our problem-analysis is a graphical software tool. On a drawing area the user may draw the symbols on predefined locations. The tool also allows for symbols to be connected with lines. Symbols are connected through selecting a start-symbol and an end-symbol