Aeshna viridis distribution and habitat choices in South and Central Sweden and the possibility to use a database as a tool in monitoring a threatened species

Aeshna viridis, a dragonfly generally considered to be a specialist as it in most cases choosesStratiotes aloides as its habitat, have suffered badly from habitat loss and fragmentationsthroughout Europe under the last century as the human demand of land use have grown. It´sthereby considered near threatened on EU red list and is included in the Habitat Directive.This means that it is protected by EU law as all EU Member States is committed to protect,monitor and report back to EU the status of the species. Several European countries havedesigned protection plans for S. aloides to improve the preservation of A. viridis. My study inSouth and Central Sweden shows that the strong connection between A. viridis and S. aloidesmay not be consistent all over the distribution range of A. viridis, as my survey showed thatlarvae occur among other water plants when S. aloides is not present. Another aim in thisstudy was to evaluate the possibility to use occurrence data on A. viridis and S. aloides fromthe Species Observations System to monitor A. viridis distribution and dispersal. My studyimplies uncertainties of how well the datasets reflects reality and more research is necessarybefore clarifying if datasets could be a possible tool in conservation management of A. viridis

Aeshna viridis distribution and habitat choices in South and Central Sweden and the possibility to use a database as a tool in monitoring a threatened species

Aeshna viridis, a dragonfly generally considered to be a specialist as it in most cases choosesStratiotes aloides as its habitat, have suffered badly from habitat loss and fragmentationsthroughout Europe under the last century as the human demand of land use have grown. It´sthereby considered near threatened on EU red list and is included in the Habitat Directive.This means that it is protected by EU law as all EU Member States is committed to protect,monitor and report back to EU the status of the species. Several European countries havedesigned protection plans for S. aloides to improve the preservation of A. viridis. My study inSouth and Central Sweden shows that the strong connection between A. viridis and S. aloidesmay not be consistent all over the distribution range of A. viridis, as my survey showed thatlarvae occur among other water plants when S. aloides is not present. Another aim in thisstudy was to evaluate the possibility to use occurrence data on A. viridis and S. aloides fromthe Species Observations System to monitor A. viridis distribution and dispersal. My studyimplies uncertainties of how well the datasets reflects reality and more research is necessarybefore clarifying if datasets could be a possible tool in conservation management of A. viridis

Lean and Agile Philosophies and work-methods in the Swedish Textile Sector : A Pilot Study

Lean Production is a well-established concept that has been most prominent within the car manufacturing industry. It bases on the ide to remove all waste and to strip away unnecessary steps that do not add value to the customer. Agile, on the other hand, is a flexible concept, aimed to stay put during volatile circumstances. This thesis deals with the phenomena of Lean Enterprise, which is an elongation of Lean Production. Now the whole organization, on all levels, is included. The thesis also explores the concept of agile, as in agile development and not in a software focus. The purpose of this study is to identify the dispersion between lean and agile philosophies and methods of working within the Swedish textile industry. No previous research about this subject have been made, solely on Lean Production, both in the textile sector and others, or Lean Enterprise, but then not within the chosen sector. Moreover, have no study been made regarding the Swedish textile sector. In order to pursue this study the authors had to explain what characteristics that are describing the phenomena of Lean Production, Pettersens (2009) research was chosen to display these. Then, these groups of characteristics were transmitted into a suitable Lean Enterprise way of thinking, to lift lean up from solely producing environments. By using this information a quantitative survey with 33 assertions have been assembled and executed on three different companies with a total of 16 respondents. The conclusions that can be drawn from this study are that there are indications that lean do exist on an operative level, throughout whole organizations, with the most prominent group of characteristics being scientific management. The least implemented group of lean characteristics within the participated companies is defects control. The results also did indicate that agile characteristics do exist but however in various amounts and in various parts. This thesis is a pilot study which will be used as the fundament for an upcoming study, therefore the latter part of this thesis’s purpose was to conduct, test and give suggestions for improving a survey.Program: Applied Textile Managemen

Low temperature Ga surface diffusion from focused ion beam milled grooves.

Ga diffusion from focused ion beam (FIB) milled grooves has been studied using x-ray photoemission electron microscopy (XPEEM) and mirror electron microscopy (MEM). We analyze the surface chemistry of the FIB structures measuring the Ga presence in the top layers of the milled grooves and morphological defects inside the grooves. The Ga is initially strictly confined to the grooves. However, annealing at temperatures as low as 150 degrees C leads to rapid and significant Ga surface diffusion from the FIB structures. The out-diffused Ga forms a thin layer extending up to several microns laterally in a non-regular pattern. The diffusion is significantly enhanced at small crystallites at the edges of the grooves. We explain the general behavior with an atomic scale model in which interstitial Ga in the milled areas diffuses out and substitutes silanol groups on the surface

Manipulating the Dynamics of Self-Propelled Gallium Droplets by Gold Nanoparticles and Nanoscale Surface Morphology

Using in situ surface-sensitive electron microscopy performed in real time, we show that the dynamics of micron-sized Ga droplets on Ga P(111) can be manipulated locally using Au nanoparticles. Detailed measurements of structure and dynamics of the surface from microns to atomic scale are done using both surface electron and scanning probe microscopies. Imaging is done simultaneously on areas with and without Au particles and on samples spanning an order of magnitude in particle coverages. Based on this, we establish the equations of motion that can generally describe the Ga droplet dynamics, taking into account three general features: the affinity of Ga droplets to cover steps and rough structures on the surface, the evaporation-driven transition of the surface nanoscale morphology from rough to flat, and the enhanced evaporation due to Ga droplets and Au nanoparticles. Separately, these features can induce either self-propelled random motion or directional motion, but in combination, the self-propelled motion acts to increase the directional motion even if the directional force is 100 times weaker than the random force. We then find that the Au particles initiate a faster native oxide desorption and speed up the rough to flat surface transition in their vicinity. This changes the balance of forces on the Ga droplets near the Au particles, effectively deflecting the droplets from these areas. The model is experimentally verified for the present materials system, but due to its very general assumptions, it could also be relevant for the many other materials systems that display self-propelled random motion

Ordering of the Nanoscale Step Morphology As a Mechanism for Droplet Self-Propulsion.

We establish a new mechanism for self-propelled motion of droplets, in which ordering of the nanoscale step morphology by sublimation beneath the droplets themselves acts to drive them perpendicular and up the surface steps. The mechanism is demonstrated and explored for Ga droplets on GaP(111)B, using several experimental techniques allowing studies of the structure and dynamics from micrometers to the atomic scale. We argue that the simple assumptions underlying the propulsion mechanism make it relevant for a wide variety of materials systems

Au wetting and nanoparticle stability on GaAs(111)B

Au nanoparticles and Au films for growth of nanowires on the GaAs(111)B surface have been studied by a combination of experimental and theoretical techniques. If Au is present in either form, annealing to temperatures relevant for nanowire growth results in the formation of a thin Au wetting layer. Based on density functional theory calculations and experimental data, a structural model is proposed with an Au atom on every third threefold hollow hcp site of the Ga lattice. The authors observe that the stability of Au nanoparticles is governed by the presence of the wetting layer and outdiffusion of Au from the nanoparticles

Design of an online health-promoting community : negotiating user community needs with public health goals and service capabilities

Background An online health-promoting community (OHPC) has the potential to promote health and advance new means of dialogue between public health representatives and the general public. The aim of this study was to examine what aspects of an OHPC that are critical for satisfying the needs of the user community and public health goals and service capabilities. Methods Community-based participatory research methods were used for data collection and analysis, and participatory design principles to develop a case study OHPC for adolescents. Qualitative data from adolescents on health appraisals and perspectives on health information were collected in a Swedish health service region and classified into categories of user health information exchange needs. A composite design rationale for the OHPC was completed by linking the identified user needs, user-derived requirements, and technical and organizational systems solutions. Conflicts between end-user requirements and organizational goals and resources were identified. Results The most prominent health information needs were associated to food, exercise, and well-being. The assessment of the design rationale document and prototype in light of the regional public health goals and service capabilities showed that compromises were needed to resolve conflicts involving the management of organizational resources and responsibilities. The users wanted to discuss health issues with health experts having little time to set aside to the OHPC and it was unclear who should set the norms for the online discussions. Conclusions OHPCs can be designed to satisfy both the needs of user communities and public health goals and service capabilities. Compromises are needed to resolve conflicts between users’ needs to discuss health issues with domain experts and the management of resources and responsibilities in public health organizations