Brownboard - A tool to facilitate improved supply chain traceability

This paper aims to describe the brownboard tool and to elaborate on its characteristics. Brownboard can be seen as a tool within process mapping and it is focused on supply chain traceability. The process map is created in a dynamical group process where supply chain actors with different competence level meet and interact. The brownboard tool is used in a case study based on a Swedish supply chain for frozen food; ice cream. The data collection includes on-site interviews, observations, and review of internal documents. Empirical results from the case are used to exemplify the use of the tool. This study indicates that the brownboard tool enables identification of potential traceability related improvements by its visualization of the flow throughout the supply chain and through highlighting potential risks connected to traceability for the supply chain actors.The evidence has so far been collected through a single case study, and is thereby limited. Although there are limitations in how far one can generalize, the evidence should be regarded as a first step toward future research on this tool in a wider supply chain context. The Swedish food industry has worked intensively with internal traceability, while supply chain traceability is identified as important but not yet fully implemented. In addition, due to increased consumer awareness about food safety, new regulations, and standards, traceability has become a focus area for the food industry in Sweden. Brownboard is one possible tool that can be used in order to facilitate the process towards fully implemented supply chain traceability. This paper describes and illustrates the use of a novel tool within process mapping for gaining improved supply chain traceability

Traceability in food supply chain:: Towards the synchronised supply chain

Today, food products are distributed all over the world. This has led to advantages in terms of availability but disadvantages in terms of more complex food supply chains. Global food competition is intense and therefore actors have started to adapt their mindsets toward a more holistic view and a supply chain perspective. In addition, food scares during recent years have turned focus towards food safety and traceability in a “farm-to-fork” perspective. The aim of this study is to explore and elaborate on challenges raised by supply chain traceability and on how traceability in food supply chains can add value to the actors. The theoretical findings are combined with empirical input from a case study within a food supply chain. To achieve a value-added approach to traceability this study shows the need to go beyond regulatory demands. The literature study indicates and the case study confirms that gaining supply chain traceability raises challenges for supply chain actors. The study also shows that supply chain traceability can be value-adding for supply chain actors. The added values gained through supply chain traceability can enable synchronisation of the supply chain

Interstitial hydrogen diffusion in M7C3 (M = Cr, Mn, Fe),

To increase the understanding of the role of carbide precipitates on the hydrogen embrittlement of martensiticsteels, we have performed a density functional theory study on the solution energies and energy barriers forhydrogen diffusion in orthorhombic M7C3 (M = Cr, Mn, Fe). Hydrogen can easily diffuse into the lattice andcause internal stresses or bond weakening, which may promote reduced ductility. Solution energies of hydrogenat different lattice positions have systematically been explored, and the lowest values are -0.28, 0.00, and 0.03eV/H-atom for Cr7C3, Mn7C3, and Fe7C3, respectively. Energy barriers for the diffusion of hydrogen atoms havebeen probed with the nudged elastic band method, which shows comparably low barriers for transport viainterstitial octahedral sites for all three systems. Analysis of the atomic volume reveals a correlation betweenlow solution energies and energy barriers and atoms with large atomic volumes. Furthermore, it shows that thepresence of carbon tends to increase the energy barrier. Our results can explain previous experimental findingsof hydrogen located in the bulk of Cr7C3 precipitates and provide a solid basis for future design efforts of steelswith high strength and commensurable ductilit

Gender perspective on older people’s exercise preferences and motivators in the context of falls prevention: a qualitative study

Background: Several factors have previously been identified to positively influence the uptake and adherence for fall prevention exercise programmes. There is, however, a lack of studies investigating if men and women differ in their views and preferences for fall prevention exercises. Aim: To explore exercise preferences and motivators of older community-dwelling women and men in the context of falls prevention from a gender perspective. Methods: Workshops including multistage focus group discussions were conducted with 18 older community-dwelling people with and without history of falls. Participants were purposively selected and divided into two groups. Each group met on six occasions over a period of five months. Participatory and Appreciative Action and Reflection methodology was used to guide the discussions. A qualitative content analysis approach was used in the analysis. Results: Older participants had many diverse preferences and confirmed that individually tailored exercise, in terms of mode, intensity, challenge, and social context, is important. Moreover, important factors for exercise adherence and maintenance included the experience of individual confirmation; different spirit lifters to increase enjoyment; and personal tricks to maintain exercise routines. The individual differences within genders were more diverse than the differences between women and men. Conclusion: Exercise interventions to prevent falls should be individually tailored, based on the specific needs and preferences of the older participant, and do not appear to require gender specific approaches. To increase adherence, intrinsic motivation for exercise may be encouraged by competence enhancing confirmations, energizing spirit lifters, and practical tips for exercise maintenance. The study provides an awareness about women's and men's preferences for fall prevention exercises, and this information could be used as guidance in designing inclusive exercise interventions

"Ingen kropp vill vara överviktig" : En kvalitativ textanalys om kvällstidningars framställning av övervikt och kroppsideal

This thesis provides a study in how media construct overweight and body image. The study is also considering if there is any difference between male and female body image and overweight. The study is based on two different newspapers health sides and a qualitative research was made. The main result showed that most of the articles pointed towards women and not towards men. It was also found that weight and body shape is described as something that is easy to change

Transitionell makt Möjligheter till försoning och upprättelse

Abstract Transitionell rättvisa behandlar frågan om hur man har ställt sig till förbrytare i en tidigare ordning. Här jämförs fyra länders lösningar till denna problematik, Kambodja, Rwanda, Guatemala och Sierra Leone. Ambitionen är att förklara varför dessa olika val har gjorts. Artikelns teoretiska utgångspunkt är kopplad till Huntingtons transitions-former. I artikelns centrum står dock en maktbalanshypotes, som hämtar inspiration från snarlika studier av bland andra Sriram och Lanegran. Dessa bygger på antaganden om att det är maktförhållanden mellan parterna i konflikten som avgör vilka lösningar som överhuvudtaget är genomförbara. Utifrån denna logik konstrueras en rundabordsmodell för att bättre fånga fallens kvalitativa dimension. Utifrån en empirisk studie av fallen och analys med hjälp av modellen drar författarna slutsatsen att hypotesen i stort får stöd. Till detta läggs kompletterande faktorer för att läsaren ska få en bredare förståelse för debatten och komplexiteten inom fältet. Nyckelord: transitionell rättvisa, massmord under inbördeskrig, jämförande fallstudie, maktbalanshypotes, rundabordsmodel

Physical activity changes the deposited fractions of particles in the respiratory tract of adults and children

Exposure to ambient air pollution can cause a numberof health problems and may be particularly dangerous to susceptible population groups such as children. Health effects caused by air pollution are criticallydependent on both the deposited fraction (DF) of the inhaled particles and in what region of the respiratory tract the deposition takes place. With increasing physical activity, the breathing pattern is altered and the airflow in the respiratory tract increase, this affects the DF and deposition site. In this study we investigated changes in DF at increasing physical activity for three population groups: ~5 and 10 year-old children, and adults.Our results indicate that the variation in total DF with physical activity is minor, but that the DF for the UFPs increase in the AI region at higher activity levels. This is important since the removal of particles in the AI region is not effective and UFPs are believed to pose a specific health risk. Therefore, activity patterns and DF of different population groups need to be considered when estimating particle dose and evaluating health risks