601 research outputs found
Radiological environmental monitoring at the ESS facility â Annual report 2020
Results from the radiological environmental monitoring of the European Spallation Source (ESS) are presented for year 2020.Among the 63 environmental samples analysed for gamma emitting radionuclides, no elevated levels of anthropogenic radioactivity were observed. All samples (except two samples of lichen) had activity concentrations below the MDA for the natural radionuclides as well as 137Cs, and normal levels of 40K. In sewage sludge, detectable levels of 177Lu and 1311 were observed in samples that were measured within one week after sampling.Mobile gamma spectrometry surveys were carried out around ESS and MAX IV (when operating at high frequency during a test run). No deviating radiation levels were observed.The samples analysed for their 3H activity concentration (120 samples) were generally below the detection limit using the current procedure, instrumentation and analysis time (MDA typically 1.6 Bq L-1). The results show no evidence of any local contamination of 3H in Lund during 2020.The 14C data in the 26 samples of grass, fruits, berries, crops, milk, honey and meat of in the Lund area and in southern Sweden is consistent with the declining 14C specific activity in atmospheric CO2. Seasonal variations were observed in the 14C data. No evidence of anthropogenic 14C contamination in the Lund area was noted during 2020.The report presents the first base-line measurements of 129I (10 samples) in the ESS environmental monitoring programme. The 129I activity concentrations ranged between (3.18 ± 0.20)â1011 atoms/kg d.w. for grass and (1.31 ± 0.03)â1013 atoms/kg d.w. for moss. These values are in the expected range
Project SSM2019-5225: âMarine 14C levels around the Swedish coastâ â Additional gamma spectrometric measurements and ICP-MS analysis of brown algae (Fucus spp.)
The results of the project SSM2019-5225, âMarine 14C levels around the Swedish coastâ, financed by the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM), are presented in the paper âSpatial and temporal variations of 14C in Fucus spp. in Swedish coastal watersâ published in the Journal of Environmental Radioactivity. The project SSM2019-5225 focussed on spatial variations in 14C in Fucus spp. samples collected in 2020 along the entire Swedish west coast, in coastal waters in the very south of Sweden, and for the east coast up into the Gulf of Bothnia. In this report we present results from additional measurements of the Fucus spp. samples, using gamma-ray spectrometry (of 7Be, 40K, 60Co, 137Cs and 131I) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) (of Co, Ni, Cd, Gd, Hg and Pb). The gamma spectrometry showed in addition to the expected content of natural 40K also 137Cs and 7Be, and at some places also 60Co and 131I. The ICP-MS analysis revealed a correlation between F14C and Gd, and the highest values of F14C and Gd were found close to Ringhals nuclear power plant. This strengthens the hypothesis that that a significant part of the observed peak in F14C on the west coast originates from Ringhals nuclear power plant
E-health services and devices: Availability, merits, and barriers - with some examples from Finland
Empowering individuals through e-health can be considered as the current trend in developing healthcare services and devices. The aim of this article is to shed light on availability, benefits, and limitations of using these services and devices in peopleâs everyday life. This study is a descriptive review based on a non-exhaustive selection of previous studies that define information exchange, information formats, opportunities, and restrictions of e-health technologies. The main focus of this study is on presenting available e-health services and devices while describing their benefits and limitations. This approach has the potential to provide new insights into the future development and integration of e-health into the healthcare system of a country. The idea behind this review is to provide a better understanding of e-health services for authorities, healthcare professionals, individuals, and related beneficiaries.Empowering individuals through e-health can be considered as the current trend in developing healthcare services and devices. The aim of this article is to shed light on availability, benefits, and limitations of using these services and devices in peopleâs everyday life. This study is a descriptive review based on a non-exhaustive selection of previous studies that define information exchange, information formats, opportunities, and restrictions of e-health technologies. The main focus of this study is on presenting available e-health services and devices while describing their benefits and limitations. This approach has the potential to provide new insights into the future development and integration of e-health into the healthcare system of a country. The idea behind this review is to provide a better understanding of e-health services for authorities, healthcare professionals, individuals, and related beneficiaries
Non-Pharmacological Approach to Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal condition. It represents a significant healthcare burden and still remains a real challenge. Over the years, IBS has been described as a strict illness of the gastrointestinal tract (medical model) or as a more complex multi-symptomatic disorder of the brain-gut axis (biopsychosocial or psychosomatic model). The reason why IBS has been such a challenge and is so difficult to handle might be related to different approaches. These differences in the view of the syndrome have affected the assessment, treatment and handling of the IBS patient. Patients with IBS, where the symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract are one part of a multi-symptom palette sometimes hidden in the body or mind, need a more holistic outlook. The key to an effective treatment approach is a gastroenterological examination to exclude other diseases along with an assessment of the whole body and its awareness by a body-mind therapist. This chapter discusses the view of the patient together with patient evaluations and body-mind treatment from a practical point of view
Measures against pine weevil Hylobius abietis also reduce damage by Hylastes cunicularius and Hylastes brunneus
Hylastes species are known to cause damage to conifers in plantations in northern Sweden, and in recent years an increase in seedling damage has been observed in southern Sweden. However, there are few studies on Hylastes spp and the damage it can cause, so there is a lack of knowledge regarding pest management. In order to investigate an eventual interaction between damage by Hylastes spp and the more well-known Hylobius abietis (L) we registered damage by these species. Unprotected spruce seedlings were compared with seedlings protected from Hylobius abietis by a mechanical coating or with an insecticide. The effect of mechanical site preparation (MSP) was studied, with half of the seedlings being planted in unprepared soil and the other half after MSP. Both seedling protection and MSP significantly reduced the level of damage caused by Hylastes spp. MSP reduced the proportion of affected and killed seedlings and reduced the level of damage at the root collar. Protecting the seedlings reduced the level of damage, and no difference was found between seedlings treated with an insecticide and those provided with a coating. Similar responses were observed with both containerized and plug plus seedlings. In conclusion, measures against Hylobius abietis seem to also prevent damage by Hylastes spp
Towards a Deeper Understanding of Agricultural Production Systems in Sweden â Linking Farmerâs Logics with Environmental Consequences and the Landscape
Farm restructuring is a continuous on-going process supported by national agricultural policy in Sweden; while striving for more efficient farms in terms of labor and yields, farms enlarge their holdings of arable land and animals. The environmental consequences of more intensive land uses have in turn stimulated environmental policies to deal with negative environmental consequences. In this paper we argue that an underlying problem with both of these policy approaches is that they primarily emphasize specific components of farms and fail to see the farm as an interconnected system. In this paper we therefore focus on the farm as a âsystemâ and on the systemic role of farming in the broader landscape. We develop a theoretical framework of farming logics which help to better understand agricultural production systems. Drawing on 34 semi-structured interviews with farmers, we divide the farms into three farming logic categories: I) âproduction vanguardsâ; II) âlandscape stewardsâ; and III) âenvironmental vanguardsâ. We use these categories to analyze the role of key aspects such as size, intensity of production, specialisation, how farmer preferences and knowledge influence land use systems, and interactions of these with the local landscape. The findings show how farms that on the one hand share some basic characteristics can display quite different farming logics and vice versa. We argue that these farming logics offer a potentially positive diversity in farming approaches, with complementary and mutually dependent roles in Swedenâs overall food system
The urban life at SkÀrholmstorget : an analysis of activity
The aim of this thesis was to take SkÀrholmstorget as an example of a place with a lot of outdoor activity and to clarify the reasons to why it has become like that. I wanted to use Gehls theories to analyse the preconditions for urban life with drawing as a tool in my analysis. My main question was: What landscape architectural solutions form the urban life at SkÀrholmstorget? Through the method I choose I explored that question by the following questions: What qualities that support urban life has SkÀrholmstorget got, according to Gehls theories? How can drawing as a method clarify Gehls conclusions in how the design of a place effects the activity.
My method was to visit and read about SkÀrholmstorget and factors that support urban life and then investigate the place and analyse the preconditions for the outdoor activity. The analysis of activity was based on the theories that Gehl presents in the book Life between buildings: Using public space (2011). The analysis is divided in two parts; the urban planning of the square and the design of the square. By drawing different parts of the square I visualised the design to deepen my understanding of the forms meaning according to peoples activity.
The result became an analyse of activity at SkÀrholmstorget. Reflections to a list of questions, maps of analysis and drawings with appurtenant texts show the result. There are several situations that support urban life both in the planning and in the design of the square. The analysis arrived at the conclusions that the variety of destinations there are to be found at SkÀrholmstorget in combination with a design that allows walking, standing and sitting creates the activeness. Even though the design was lacking in some terms of creating activity, people are gathering at the square and the visitors attract more visitors to come. I assume it has evolved such a self-reinforcing process, where some activity take place more events and people tend to join and new activity develops. The wide variety of functions and services on the square and the fact that there are no vehicular traffic give good conditions for activity in a planning perspective. In terms of the design the northern part of the square has qualities like good climate conditions, a smaller scale and details to move and linger by. These positive aspects that contribute to life between the buildings at SkÀrholmstorget can be used as inspiration when working as a landscape architect. Another result of this theses is the elaboration of a method of analysis where I assembled Gehls theories in a list of questions to investigate and developed the analysis of the design in another dimension by drawing different environments at the square. Drawing as a method helped me notice things like big respective intimate scales and how people interacted with different elements at the square
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