Social sustainability in urban renewal

Cities are forever transforming, never standing still; they are organisms in a constant evolution. With urbanization and globalization cities have gained importance and developed a need to compete with each other; one can say that today we live in a shrinking world where the cities nevertheless keep growing with an increasing population. With urban renewal, cities can both respond to the growing need for building more housing and provide an opportunity to stand out among other cities, why this is an approach many cities use to develop themselves. However, experiences from urban renewal projects have shown that there are many challenges associated with urban renewal, especially social challenges such as socioeconomic differences and segregation. Social challenges such as these constitute the foundation of the concept of social sustainability - the social dimension of sustainability. Therefore there is a need for landscape architects and urban planners to gain more knowledge about urban renewal developments and how to ensure that they become socially sustainable. In this thesis the complex concepts of urban renewal and social sustainability are studied and defined. A framework to be able to study the social sustainability of a city district has also been established in this thesis. This framework is based upon four groups of contribution factors to social sustainability; social services & accessibility, social mix & social inclusion, overall form & function and social networks & stability. The framework is used to study the social sustainability of two important and current cases of urban renewal developments; Melbourne Docklands in Melbourne, Australia and Hammarby Sjöstad in Stockholm, Sweden. From these two case studies twenty-seven different key points have been established that together form a guideline as to what to consider in urban renewal developments when wanting to create a socially sustainable neighborhood. The thesis ends with a reflection and discussion about social sustainability in urban renewal developments as well as provides ideas to new master thesis to other landscape architect students.Städer är i ständig förändring och aldrig statiska, de är organismer i en beständig evolution. Med urbanisering och globalisering har städer fått allt ökande betydelse och utvecklat ett behov av att konkurrera med varandra; man skulle kunna säga att vi idag lever i en minskande värld där städerna emellertid fortsätter att växa med en ständigt ökande befolkning. Med stadsförnyelseprojekt har städer en möjlighet att svara på det tilltagande behovet av nya bostäder samtidigt som det ger en möjlighet att skapa framstående projekt som kan ge en stark identitet till en stad. Därför använder många städer stadsförnyelseprojekt för att vidareutvecklas. Från existerande stadsbyggnadsprojekt har det dock framkommit att det finns många utmaningar med dessa projekt, och många av dessa utmaningar rör sociala frågor så som socioekonomiska skillnader och segregering. Sociala utmaningar som dessa utgör grunden till konceptet social hållbarhet – den sociala dimensionen av hållbarhet. Det finns därför ett behov för landskapsarkitekter och stadsplanerare att få mer kunskap om stadsförnyelseprojekt och hur man kan säkerhetsställa att de blir socialt hållbara. I den här uppsatsen har de komplexa begreppen stadsförnyelse samt social hållbarhet studerats och definierats. Ett ramverk för att kunna studera social hållbarhet i en stadsdel har även tagits fram i uppsatsen. Detta ramverk är baserat på fyra grupper av bidragande faktorer till social hållbarhet: sociala tjänster & tillgänglighet, social blandning & social integration, övergripande form och funktion samt sociala nätverk & stabilitet. Ramverket användes för att studera den sociala hållbarheten hos två viktiga och aktuella stadsförnyelseprojekt; Melbourne Docklands i Melbourne, Australien och Hammarby Sjöstad i Stockholm, Sverige. Från dessa två fallstudier har tjugosju olika punkter tagits fram som tillsammans skapar en riktlinje för hur man kan arbeta med stadsförnyelseprojekt när man vill skapa socialt hållbara stadsdelar. Denna uppsats avslutar med en reflektion och diskussion om social hållbarhet i stadsförnyelseprojekt samt erbjuder idéer på nya examensarbeten till andra landskapsarkitektstudenter

Germinal centers - why and why not? : the humoral response in primary immunodeficiency

An efficient and regulated immune system is required for protection against pathogens. B cells are required for a humoral response. For a sustained humoral response against pathogens germinal center (GC) reactions are required. In the GC reaction, B cells with antigen-specific B cell receptors are selected and expanded. The GC contains follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) presenting antigens to the B cells, T follicular helper cells promoting proliferation of cognate B cells and highly proliferating B cells expressing activation induced deaminase (AID) in order to produce high-affinity and isotype-switched antibodies. In this thesis I aimed to define the unique and redundant functions of two actin-polymerizing proteins, WASp and N-WASp, the importance of the RhoGTPase Cdc42 and the consequences of mutated AID in the GC reaction. In paper I we discovered that naïve WASp-deficient (WKO) mice and WASp-deficient mice with N-WASp conditionally deleted only in B cells (cDKO) had increased titers of autoreactive antibodies (IgG and IgM, respectively). Both WKO and cDKO B cells got sufficient help from cognate T cells, while the polarization of GCs and the FDC network was altered upon autoantigen challenge. cDKO mice may have increased activation threshold of the B cell receptor in B cells resulting in reduced autoreactive IgG. In paper II we revealed the distinctive and partly redundant function of WASp and N-WASp in B cells. We observed reduced marginal zone cellularity in WKO mice and even more pronounced in cDKO mice when compared with wild type mice. The mild phenotype of reduced GC and humoral response in WKO mice previously reported was markedly defected in cDKO mice after antigen challenge, promoting the notion of overlapping functions of WASp and N-WASp in B cells. In paper III we investigated the role of Cdc42, that activates both WASp and N-WASp, in B cells. Mice with deleted Cdc42 conditionally in B cells had reduced marginal zone and follicular B cell numbers and reduced GC B cell number associated with reduced specific antibody titers in serum after antigen challenge. In paper IV we identified a mouse model for one of the most common mutations in AID leading to the hyper-IgM syndrome. The replacement mutation in amino acid position 112 resulted in a catalytic dead AID protein with spontaneous GC formation, and lack of high affinity or class-switched antibodies. Altogether, the work presented in this thesis enlightens the significance of tightly regulated B cells for a sufficient, and not autoreactive, humoral immune response. Specifically, this thesis has contributed to our understanding of the importance of a functional AID protein in B cells. Moreover, this thesis has helped in defining the precise activation of the actin regulating proteins in B cells to form antigen-induced GCs and for production of classswitched antibodies with high affinity for the antigen

Functional assessment for clinical use of serum-free adapted NK-92 cells

Natural killer (NK) cells stand out as promising candidates for cellular immunotherapy due to their capacity to kill malignant cells. However, the therapeutic use of NK cells is often dependent on cell expansion and activation with considerable amounts of serum and exogenous cytokines. We aimed to develop an expansion protocol for NK-92 cells in an effort to generate a cost-efficient, xeno-free, clinical grade manufactured master cell line for therapeutic applications. By making functional assays with NK-92 cells cultured under serum-free conditions (NK-92(SF)) and comparing to serum-supplemented NK-92 cells (NK-92(S)) we did not observe significant alterations in the viability, proliferation, receptor expression levels, or in perforin and granzyme levels. Interestingly, even though NK-92(SF) cells displayed decreased degranulation and cytotoxicity against tumor cells in vitro, the degranulation capacity was recovered after overnight incubation with 20% serum in the medium. Moreover, lentiviral vector-based genetic modification efficiency of NK-92(SF) cells was comparable with NK-92(S) cells. The application of similar strategies can be useful in reducing the costs of manufacturing cells for clinical use and can help us understand and implement strategies towards chemically defined expansion and genetic modification protocols

N-WASP Is Essential for the Negative Regulation of B Cell Receptor Signaling

Negative regulation of receptor signaling is essential for controlling cell activation and differentiation. In B-lymphocytes, the down-regulation of B-cell antigen receptor (BCR) signaling is critical for suppressing the activation of self-reactive B cells; however, the mechanism underlying the negative regulation of signaling remains elusive. Using genetically manipulated mouse models and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, we demonstrate that neuronal Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP), which is coexpressed with WASP in all immune cells, is a critical negative regulator of B-cell signaling. B-cell–specific N-WASP gene deletion causes enhanced and prolonged BCR signaling and elevated levels of autoantibodies in the mouse serum. The increased signaling in N-WASP knockout B cells is concurrent with increased accumulation of F-actin at the B-cell surface, enhanced B-cell spreading on the antigen-presenting membrane, delayed B-cell contraction, inhibition in the merger of signaling active BCR microclusters into signaling inactive central clusters, and a blockage of BCR internalization. Upon BCR activation, WASP is activated first, followed by N-WASP in mouse and human primary B cells. The activation of N-WASP is suppressed by Bruton's tyrosine kinase-induced WASP activation, and is restored by the activation of SH2 domain-containing inositol 5-phosphatase that inhibits WASP activation. Our results reveal a new mechanism for the negative regulation of BCR signaling and broadly suggest an actin-mediated mechanism for signaling down-regulation

Erfarenheter och meningsfulla sammanhang – En studie om hur tio lärare ser på och använder sig av dessa begrepp

Abstract Arbetets titel Erfarenheter och meningsfulla sammanhang – En studie om hur tio lärare ser på och använder sig av dessa begrepp Arbetets art Examensarbete i det allmänna utbildningsområdet för lärarprogrammet Sidantal 36 Författare Erika Anttila och Carin Dahlberg Handledare Elisabeth Hesslefors Arktoft Examinator Bo Andersson Tidpunkt Höstterminen 2005 Nyckelord Erfarenheter, meningsfulla sammanhang, svenskundervisning Bakgrund Som blivande lärare har vi ett intresse av att skapa meningsfulla sammanhang för elevers lärande. Under utbildningens gång har vi lärt oss att man ska ta vara på elevers erfarenheter och använda dessa i svenskundervisningen. Då detta även står skrivet i Lpo 94 och är ett av våra uppdrag som lärare ligger det i vårt intresse att veta mer om erfarenheter och meningsfulla sammanhang. I arbetet kommer tio svensklärares syn på dessa begrepp att behandlas. Fem av dessa är verksamma i de lägre åldrarna och fem i de högre åldrarna. Syfte Syftet med vårt examensarbete är att studera hur svensklärare i de lägre respektive högre åldrarna ser på begreppen erfarenheter och meningsfulla sammanhang. I arbetet har vi även tänkt undersöka på vilket sätt de intervjuade lärarna använder sig av elevernas erfarenheter i svenskundervisningen. . Metod och material Vi använder oss av en kvalitativ metod – en fenomenografisk ansats. För att samla in material har vi använt oss av intervjuer. Materialet består av tidigare forskning och litteratur om teoretiska uppfattningar angående ämnet. Resultat Skillnaderna mellan lärarna i de lägre och högre åldrarna var inte så tydliga som vi först trott. Resultatet visar att alla lärare i undersökningen tänker på dessa begrepp och försöker ta in elevers erfarenheter i svenskundervisningen. De flesta av lärarna säger att de använder sig av elevernas erfarenheter och försöker skapa meningsfullhet i svenskundervisningen. I lärarnas svar kunde vi dock utläsa inre motsägelser som pekar på att intervjuerna i det avseendet kan ha begränsad validitet. Detta eftersom några av lärarna svarar på ett sådant sätt som strider mot det de tidigare sagt

Lonelier than ever? : Loneliness of older people over two decades

To live with feelings of loneliness has negative implications for quality of life, health and survival. This study aimed to examine changes in loneliness among older people, both with regard to prevalence rates, and socio-demographic, social and health-related correlates of loneliness. This study had a repeated cross-sectional design and was based on the nationally representative Swedish Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old (SWEOLD). Analyses of trends in loneliness covered the years 1992, 2002, 2004, 2011 and 2014, and included people aged 77 years or older (n=2 572). Analyses of correlates of loneliness covered 2004 and 2014, and included people aged 70 years or older (n=1 962). Logistic regression analyses were conducted with findings presented as average marginal effects. Contrary to what is often assumed, there has been no increase in loneliness among older people over time (1992-2014). Regression analyses for 2004 and 2014 showed that social and health-related correlates were more strongly associated with loneliness than socio-demographic correlates. Psychological distress was most strongly associated with loneliness, followed by widowhood. Most associations between the correlates and loneliness were stable over time.Open Access APC beslut 2/2018</p

Long-term predictors of loneliness in old age : Results of a 20-year national study

Objectives: There is a general lack of longitudinal research on loneliness in old age. Drawing on life course theory and the convoy model, this study aimed to examine whether there is an association between loneliness in old age and social engagement 20 years earlier. Method: Data from the nationally representative Swedish Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old (2002 and 2011 data collection waves) and the Swedish Level of Living Survey (1981 and 1991 data collection waves) were used, including 823 individuals with an average age of 82.4 years at follow-up. Results: Each form of social engagement in old age was associated with the same form of social engagement 20 years earlier. Close forms of social engagement were negatively associated with loneliness in old age; as were more distant forms of social engagement, but only when they were considered solely in old age. Conclusion: Patterns of social engagement in old age were established at least 20 years earlier. Close forms of social engagement are long-term predictors of loneliness, although current social engagement tended to be more influential on loneliness. The study underlines the importance of interventions targeted at close relationships that can provide social support in old age.Open Access APC beslut 1/2018</p