Kan vi lagstifta bort strukturer? - En analys av grov kvinnofridskränkning

This essay will explain the reasoning behind the implementation of the regulation in Chapter 4, Section 4a of the Criminal Code aiming at domestic violence towards women, and whether these objectives have been achieved. By presenting the underlying theories and aims of the introduction of the paragraph and how this has been applied with regard to the underlying motives, the paper analyses whether the purpose has been fulfilled and whether legislation in its present form is an appropriate means of achieving gender equality policy goals. The conclusion of the paper is that legislation is one of several ways of achieving political goals, but that society may potentially make great hopes for what can be achieved by legislation. The legal community is a slow mill and is not always capable of keeping in societal development without significant efforts on more fronts.Denna uppsats skall redogöra för resonemanget bakom införandet av grov kvinnofridskränkning i 4 kap, 4a §, i Brottsbalken samt om dessa syften uppnåtts. Genom att redovisa de bakomliggande teorierna och syftena vid införandet av paragrafen samt hur denna har tillämpats med hänsyn till bakomliggande motiv analyserar uppsatsen om syftens uppfyllts samt om lagstiftning i dess nuvarande form är ett lämpligt sätt att uppnå jämställdhetspolitiska mål. Slutsatsen för uppsatsen är att lagstiftning är ett av flera sätt att uppnå politiska mål men att samhället eventuellt lägger för stora förhoppningar till vad som kan åstadkommas med lagstiftning. Rättssamhället är en långsam kvarn och inte alltid kapabel att hänga med i samhällets utveckling utan betydande insatser på fler fronter

Frågeställningar i examensarbeten

För att klara examinationsmålen i civilingenjörsexamen (SFS 1993:100 bilaga 2) ska varje student visa förmåga att med helhetssyn kritiskt, självständigt och kreativt identifiera, formulera och hantera komplexa frågeställningar. För att öka förståelsen för hur forskningsfrågan identifieras, formuleras och hanteras vid LTH har ett tjugotal examensarbetsrapporter från olika institutioner granskats. Granskningen har utgått från rapporternas inledande och avslutande kapitel för att se om forskningsfrågan tydligt formuleras i inledningen och om den besvaras i slutsatserna. Utifrån det material vi har studerat och publicerad litteratur kan vi konstatera att det är ett allmänt problem att studenter på masters-nivå överlag har liten vana vid att hantera komplexa frågeställningar. Det tycks finnas bristande kunskaper om vad vetenskaplighet/vetenskaplig metodik/vetenskaplig tradition innebär för vad som ska presenteras och vi kan konstatera att det både på LTH och i stort finns ett behov för åtgärder för att på ett mer effektiv sätt träna studenter i detta. Att litteraturen inom detta område är begränsad visar på både behovet men kanske också svårigheter att identifiera precis hur detta kan göras. Vi identifierade detta som ett viktigt utvecklingsområde för handledare av examensarbeten inom civilingenjörsutbildningarna på LTH, som dock också kan komma att behöva stöd av nya strukturer och systematiska åtgärder för att nå gemensamma mål för hela fakulteten

Parental Attitudes toward Consent for Music Intervention Studies in Preterm Infants: A Cross-Sectional Study

(1) Background: This study investigated parents’ motives for enrolling preterm infants into music therapy intervention studies during Neonatal Intensive Care hospitalization. (2) Methods: We surveyed Israeli parents of preterm infants after they consented or refused to participate in such studies. The pre-piloted questionnaires evaluated attitudes toward research and music therapy intervention studies. The study included 116 (57%) parents who agreed to participate in music therapy studies and 87 (43%) who declined. (3) Results: Infants of those who agreed to participate were younger (17 ± 2.3 vs. 28 ± 4.7 days old, p = 0.03) and sicker (Clinical Risk Index for Babies score 6.1 ± 2.7 vs. 3.68 ± 4.1, p = 0.04). More single-parent families declined to participate (p = 0.05). Parents agreed to participate because they thought the study might help their child, would improve future care of preterm infants and increase medical knowledge (all p < 0.05). In addition, they perceived music as beneficial for brain development, thought it might improve bonding, and routinely listened to music daily. (4) Conclusions: When recruiting parents and preterm infants for music therapy intervention studies, one should highlight potential contributions to the child’s health, future children’s health and medical knowledge. Stressing music as a potential tool for brain development and augmenting bonding is important. The best time to recruit is when improvements are still anticipated.publishedVersio

Insect community structure covaries with host plant chemistry but is not affected by prior herbivory

By feeding on plant tissue, insect herbivores can change several characteristics of their hosts. These changes have the potential to alter the quality of the plant for other herbivore species, potentially altering the structure of the community of species attacking the plant at a later point in time. We tested whether herbivory early in the season changes host plant performance, polyphenol chemistry, and the community structure of sessile herbivores later in the season. We experimentally manipulated densities of early‐season moth caterpillars on a set of young oak trees and measured tree growth, reproduction, leaf chemistry, and the abundance and community composition of leafmining and galling species later in the season. The experimental manipulations of early‐season herbivores did not affect late‐season leaf chemistry or tree performance. Early‐season herbivores had a weak negative effect on the abundance of gallers and a positive, tree‐dependent effect on the overall diversity of late‐season sessile herbivores. The chemical composition of leaves covaried with the species composition of the late‐season leafmining and galling community. Both the chemical composition of the host tree and the late‐season insect community structure were strongly affected by the growth location of the tree. Our results suggest that plant‐mediated indirect effects between herbivores might play a limited role in this system, whereas the underlying variation in plant chemistry is an important factor structuring the associated insect community. Our results emphasize that factors other than prior herbivory can be important determinants of plant chemistry and the community composition of herbivores

Music Therapy Intervention in an Open Bay Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Room Is Associated with Less Noise and Higher Signal to Noise Ratios: A Case-Control Study

Background: Noise reduction in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is important for neurodevelopment, but the impact of music therapy on noise is not yet known. Objective: To investigate the effect of music therapy (MT) on noise levels, and whether individual MT (IMT) or environmental MT (EMT) increases meaningful signal-to-noise ratios (SNR). Study design: This case-control study was conducted in a level III NICU. Noise levels were recorded simultaneously from two open bay rooms, with a maximum of 10 infants in each room: one with MT and the other without. MT sessions were carried out for approximately 45 min with either IMT or EMT, implemented according to the Rhythm Breath and Lullaby principles. Noise production data were recorded for 4 h on 26 occasions of EMT and IMT, and analyzed using R version 4.0.2 software. Results: Overall average equivalent continuous noise levels (Leq) were lower in the room with MT as compared to the room without MT (53.1 (3.6) vs. 61.4 (4.7) dBA, p = 0.02, d = 2.1 (CI, 0.82, 3.42). IMT was associated with lower overall Leq levels as compared to EMT (51.2 vs. 56.5 dBA, p = 0.04, d = 1.6 (CI, 0.53, 1.97). The lowest sound levels with MT occurred approximately 60 min after the MT started (46 ± 3.9 dBA), with a gradual increase during the remaining recording time, but still significantly lower compared to the room without MT. The SNR was higher (18.1 vs. 10.3 dBA, p = 0.01, d = 2.8 (CI, 1.3, 3.86)) in the room with MT than in the room without MT. Conclusion: Integrating MT modalities such as IMT and EMT in an open bay NICU room helps reduce noise. Both MT modalities resulted in higher SNR compared to the control room, which may indicate that they are meaningful for the neurodevelopment of preterm infants.publishedVersio

Effects of Live Music Therapy on Autonomic Stability in Preterm Infants:A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

Unbuffered stress levels may negatively influence preterm-infants’ autonomic nervous system (ANS) maturation, thus affecting neurobehavior and psycho-emotional development. Music therapy (MT) is an evidence-based treatment modality in neonatal care. When coupled with skin-to-skin care (SSC), it may reduce stress responses in both preterm infants and their parents and enhance family-centered care. Accordingly, we aimed to compare the effects of combined MT and SSC and SSC alone on ANS stabilization in preterm infants. In a single-center, cluster-randomized trial design, ten two-month time-clusters were randomized to either combined MT and SSC or SSC alone. Families of preterm infants were offered two sessions of the allocated condition in the NICU, and a three-month follow up session at home. The primary outcome variable was stabilization of the ANS, defined by change in the high frequency (HF) power of heart rate variability (HRV) during the second session. Secondary outcomes included other HRV measures, parent–infant attachment, and parental anxiety at each session. Sixty-eight families were included. MT combined with SSC improved infants’ ANS stability, as indicated by a greater increase in HF power during MT compared to SSC alone (mean difference 5.19 m2/Hz, SE = 1.27, p < 0.001) (95% confidence interval 0.87 to 2.05). Most secondary outcomes were not significantly different between the study groups. MT contributes to preterm-infants’ autonomic stability, thus laying an important foundation for neuro-behavioral and psycho-emotional development. Studies evaluating longer-term effects of MT on preterm infants’ development are warranted

Music Therapy Intervention in an Open Bay Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Room Is Associated with Less Noise and Higher Signal to Noise Ratios:A Case-Control Study

Background: Noise reduction in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is important for neurodevelopment, but the impact of music therapy on noise is not yet known. Objective: To investigate the effect of music therapy (MT) on noise levels, and whether individual MT (IMT) or environmental MT (EMT) increases meaningful signal-to-noise ratios (SNR). Study design: This case-control study was conducted in a level III NICU. Noise levels were recorded simultaneously from two open bay rooms, with a maximum of 10 infants in each room: one with MT and the other without. MT sessions were carried out for approximately 45 min with either IMT or EMT, implemented according to the Rhythm Breath and Lullaby principles. Noise production data were recorded for 4 h on 26 occasions of EMT and IMT, and analyzed using R version 4.0.2 software. Results: Overall average equivalent continuous noise levels (Leq) were lower in the room with MT as compared to the room without MT (53.1 (3.6) vs. 61.4 (4.7) dBA, p = 0.02, d = 2.1 (CI, 0.82, 3.42). IMT was associated with lower overall Leq levels as compared to EMT (51.2 vs. 56.5 dBA, p = 0.04, d = 1.6 (CI, 0.53, 1.97). The lowest sound levels with MT occurred approximately 60 min after the MT started (46 ± 3.9 dBA), with a gradual increase during the remaining recording time, but still significantly lower compared to the room without MT. The SNR was higher (18.1 vs. 10.3 dBA, p = 0.01, d = 2.8 (CI, 1.3, 3.86)) in the room with MT than in the room without MT. Conclusion: Integrating MT modalities such as IMT and EMT in an open bay NICU room helps reduce noise. Both MT modalities resulted in higher SNR compared to the control room, which may indicate that they are meaningful for the neurodevelopment of preterm infants

Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Receptor Shedding Controls Thresholds of Innate Immune Activation That Balance Opposing TNF Functions in Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a potent cytokine exerting critical functions in the activation and regulation of immune and inflammatory responses. Due to its pleiotropic activities, the amplitude and duration of TNF function must be tightly regulated. One of the mechanisms that may have evolved to modulate TNF function is the proteolytic cleavage of its cell surface receptors. In humans, mutations affecting shedding of the p55TNF receptor (R) have been linked with the development of the TNFR-associated periodic syndromes, disorders characterized by recurrent fever attacks and localized inflammation. Here we show that knock-in mice expressing a mutated nonsheddable p55TNFR develop Toll-like receptor–dependent innate immune hyperreactivity, which renders their immune system more efficient at controlling intracellular bacterial infections. Notably, gain of function for antibacterial host defenses ensues at the cost of disbalanced inflammatory reactions that lead to pathology. Mutant mice exhibit spontaneous hepatitis, enhanced susceptibility to endotoxic shock, exacerbated TNF-dependent arthritis, and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. These results introduce a new concept for receptor shedding as a mechanism setting up thresholds of cytokine function to balance resistance and susceptibility to disease. Assessment of p55TNFR shedding may thus be of prognostic value in infectious, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases

Two interacting diffusing particles on low-dimensional discrete structures

In this paper we study the motion of two particles diffusing on low-dimensional discrete structures in presence of a hard-core repulsive interaction. We show that the problem can be mapped in two decoupled problems of single particles diffusing on different graphs by a transformation we call 'diffusion graph transform'. This technique is applied to study two specific cases: the narrow comb and the ladder lattice. We focus on the determination of the long time probabilities for the contact between particles and their reciprocal crossing. We also obtain the mean square dispersion of the particles in the case of the narrow comb lattice. The case of a sticking potential and of 'vicious' particles are discussed.Comment: 9 pages, 6 postscript figures, to appear in 'Journal of Physics A',-January 200

Investigation of Adjacent Lifted Flames Interaction in an Inline and Inclined Multi-Burner Arrangement

The main objective of this research is to assess an innovative, low nitrogen oxides emission combustor concept, which has the potential to achieve the long term European emissions goals for aircraft engines. Lean lifted spray flames and their very low nitrogen oxides emissions are combined with an inclination of burners in annular combustor leading to a more compact combustor with superior stability range. The presented combustor concept was developed in the frame of the European research project CHAIRLIFT (Compact Helical Arranged combustoRs with lean LIFTed flames). CHAIRLIFT combustor concept is based on “low swirl” lean lifted spray flames, which features a high degree of premixing and consequently significantly reduced nitrogen oxides emissions and flashback risk compared to conventional swirl stabilized flames. In the CHAIRLIFT combustor concept, the lifted flames are combined with Short Helical Combustors arrangement to attain stable combustion by tilting the axis of the flames relative to the axis of the turbine to enhance the interaction of adjacent flames in a circumferential direction. A series of experimental tests were conducted at a multi-burner array test rig consisting of up to five modular burners at different burner inclination angles (0° and 45°), equivalence ratios, and relative air pressure drop at ambient conditions. For all investigated configurations, a remarkable high lean blow out for non-piloted burners (ϕLBO = 0.29–0.37), was measured. The multi-burner configurations were observed having a superior stability range in contrast to the typical decrease in stability from single to high swirl multi-burner. The unwanted flow deflection of highly swirled flames in Short Helical Combustors arrangement, could be avoided with the investigated low swirl lifted flames. Moreover, the flame chemiluminescence (OH*) measurements were used to provide a qualitative characterization of the flame topology. Complementary numerical investigations were carried out using different numbers of burners to evaluate the effect of boundary conditions