Decentralisation of Active Labour Market Policy: The Case of Swedish Local Employment Service Committees

Decentralisation of decision-making in active labour market policy makes it possible to use local information to the fullest, but may also impinge on the fulfilment of national objectives, as suggested by principal-agent theory. The purpose of this study is to ex-amine the effects of a Swedish pilot programme in 1996, which strengthened the role of the local authorities in labour market policy in parts of the country. Survey evidence suggests a non-negligible divergence between the objectives of the municipality repre-sentatives and the central government's goals. Regarding programme effects, our econometric findings do not indicate any increase in geographical lock-in of the unem-ployed, but decentralisation seems to spur local initiatives in the form of labour market programmes organised by the municipalities. In addition, targeting on outsiders is to some extent more common in municipal projects than in others.Active labour market policy; Decentralisation; Intergovernmental relations

Delivery of gene-regulating agents: Internalization mechanisms and novel vectors

The sequencing of the human genome was expected to generate a veritable explosion of therapeutics for regulation of gene function, either through modulation of gene expression or through the replacement of defect genes. However, nucleic acid-based pharmacological agents suffer from issues of low bioavailability and unfavorable pharmacokinetics, wherefore these prospects have not yet been realized. One promising approach for regulation of gene function is a special type of antisense technology, referred to as splice correction. Aberrantly spliced mRNA is intimately associated with numerous serious illnesses, wherefore the ability to restore the correct splicing pattern is a highly attractive therapeutic approach. Another thriving oligonucleotide-based platform makes use of small (or short) interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA sequences that efficiently silence expression of essentially any gene of interest. However, both platforms are limited by the inherent weaknesses of oligo- and polynucleotide-based agents, meaning that the development of efficient delivery vectors is a prerequisite for clinical translation. Short cationic peptide sequences, so called cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), constitute an emerging category of delivery vehicles with the ability to convey various cargo molecules across the cell membrane, but numerous polymeric vectors (commonly referred to as ‘polyplexes’) are also under intense scrutiny for delivery of gene-regulating agents. This thesis aims to delineate the internalization mechanisms of CPPs conjugated to a special type of splice-correcting oligonucleotide analogues (namely peptide nucleic acids (PNAs)), but it also presents a rationally modified CPP for delivery of splicecorrecting oligonucleotides and plasmid DNA, as well as an entirely novel class of delivery vectors, so called polythiophenes, for siRNA delivery. Specifically, paper I examines the internalization routes of a number of CPP-PNA conjugates, papers II and III study the oligonucleotide and plasmid delivery efficacy, respectively, of the stearylated CPP transportan 10 (TP10), whereas paper IV examines the utility of a cationic polythiophene for siRNA delivery. In conclusion, the research described herein provides novel data on internalization mechanisms of chemically distinct CPPs, as well as presents two novel agents for delivery of splice-correcting oligonucleotides, plasmid DNA, and siRNA, thereby adding additional tools to the toolbox for delivery of gene-regulating agents

Hemodynamisk overvåkning er mer enn tall og parametre : Erfarne intensivsykepleieres kliniske beslutningsprosesser ved hemodynamisk overvåkning hvor pulmonalt arteriekateter anvendes i behandling av pasienter med akutt hjertesvikt

Formål: Studiens hensikt var å utforske og beskrive erfarne intensivsykepleieres kliniske beslutningsprosesser ved hemodynamisk overvåkning hvor pulmonalt arteriekateter ble anvendt i behandling av pasienter med akutt hjertesvikt. Teoretisk forankring: Rådende forskningslitteratur i forhold til beslutningsprosesser blant sykepleiere på sykehus og i klinisk praksis, samt forskningslitteratur relatert til anvendelse av pulmonalt arteriekateter ble gjort rede for. I tillegg ble problemstillingen belyst med en gjennomgang av forholdet mellom analytisk og intuitiv kognisjon i beslutningsprosesser, med Hammonds Cognitive Continuum Theory og Benners ekspertmodell for sykepleiere som grunnlag. Metode: Studien hadde et utforskende og beskrivende design og ti erfarne intensivsykepleiere ble intervjuet ved hjelp av semistrukturerte intervju. En kombinasjon av inklusjonskriterier og hensiktsmessig tilfeldig utvalg ble benyttet for å rekruttere intensivsykepleiere. Intervjuer ble utført ved å benytte Kvale og Brinkmanns perspektiver på intervjuforskning og analyse av data ble utført ved å benytte Malteruds systematisk tekstkondensering. Resultater: Erfarne intensivsykepleiere anvendte både kliniske observasjoner og data fra det pulmonale arteriekateteret aktivt. I løpet av et kort tidsrom gjennomførte de tiltak for å stabilisere pasientenes livstruende situasjon, forebygget langsiktige komplikasjoner og ivaretok pårørendes behov. Intensivsykepleierne viste en ansvarspraksis hvor de var fleksible i samarbeidet med legetjenesten og gjorde kontinuerlige vurderinger av pasientens tilstand, samtidig som de videreførte egne vurderinger til andre intensivsykepleiere og kvalitetssikret beslutninger ved å diskutere med erfarne kolleger. Praksiserfaring var den viktigste kilden til kunnskap, men intensivsykepleierne brukte både teoretisk kunnskap og erfaring for å sette ord på kliniske beslutninger ved hemodynamisk overvåkning. Konklusjon: Erfarne intensivsykepleiere anvendte et helhetlig perspektiv på pasientens tilstand ved hemodynamisk overvåkning, men det er nødvendig å synliggjøre hvordan de kombinerte kliniske observasjoner og tallparametre fra det pulmonale arteriekateteret i komplekse pasientsituasjoner på en bedre måte. Det må også kommuniseres hvordan en begrunnet ansvarspraksis så ut til å bidra til en økt kvalitet på overvåkning og behandling av pasienter med akutt hjertesvikt ved hemodynamisk overvåkning. Nøkkelord: klinisk beslutningsprosess, sykepleie, intensivsykepleie, pulmonalt arteriekateter, hemodynamikk, akutt hjertesvik

Safety in Road Tunnels – Safety Target Proposal

The purpose of this paper is to propose a quantitative target for assessment of life safety in road tunnels and describe how such a target can be utilized and developed further. The target is developed from an analysis of initiating events, accident statistics and analytical approaches and it makes it possible to tailor the safety concept in individual tunnels to meet the target by means of quantitative risk analyses. The results indicate that the practice proposed is beneficial for both quality and transparency in the decision-making, as well as it can be judged to have the potential to improve cost-efficiency in the safety related work. It is concluded that the target should be calibrated and evaluated with data from real tunnels before implementation and that the resulting safety level from present ruling is assessed. Also, it is concluded that the total cost to realize the safety target is assessed. It is recommended to put more effort on general accident prevention in tunnels compared to surface roads in order to reduce the number of events that may escalate beyond control. It is also recommended that the road tunnel safety learning processes are improved by routine collection, compilation and evaluation of data on road tunnel accidents as well as vehicle-fires and dangerous goods accidents in road traffic as a whole

Nätverk för ingenjörsutbildningar för samverkan vid införande av ny examens- och utbildningsstruktur

I föreliggande arbete beskrivs arbetet med att skapa ett nätverk med det övergripande syftet att stärka svensk ingenjörsutbildning. Under 2007 har nätverket finansierats av NSHU, som tillhandahållit medel för att stödja svenska högskolors arbete med Bolognaprocessen. Nätverket Ingenjörsutbildningarna har under året anordnat ett antal välbesökta workshopar. Ett antal grupperingar som inte tidigare haft regelbundna träffar har därmed skapats. Deltagarnas omdömen har varit positiva. Det är tydligt att det finns ett behov av ämnesbaserade nätverk, och där diskussionerna inte bara handlar om Bolognafrågor utan även om ämnesinnehåll, rekrytering, varumärken med mera. Projektet kan sägas ha startat ett nätverkande mellan ingenjörsutbildningar men det krävs mer arbete för att nå kontinuitet

Remote nocturnal bird classification by spectroscopy in extended wavelength ranges

We present optical methods at a wide range of wavelengths for remote classification of birds. The proposed methods include eye-safe fluorescence and depolarization lidar techniques, passive scattering spectroscopy, and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. In this paper we refine our previously presented method of remotely classifying birds with the help of laser-induced beta-keratin fluorescence. Phenomena of excitation quenching are studied in the laboratory and are theoretically discussed in detail. It is shown how the ordered microstructures in bird feathers induce structural "colors" in the IR region with wavelengths of around 3-6 mu m. We show that transmittance in this region depends on the angle of incidence of the transmitted light in a species-specific way and that the transmittance exhibits a close correlation to the spatial periodicity in the arrangement of the feather barbules. We present a method by which the microstructure of feathers can be monitored in a remote fashion by utilization of thermal radiation and the wing beating of the bird. (C) 2011 Optical Society of Americ

Effectiveness of a self-managed digital exercise programme to prevent falls in older community-dwelling adults -study protocol for the Safe Step randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION: Exercise interventions have a strong evidence base for falls prevention. However, exercise can be challenging to implement and often has limited reach and poor adherence. Digital technology provides opportunities for both increased access to the intervention and support over time. Further knowledge needs to be gained regarding the effectiveness of completely self-managed digital exercise interventions. The main objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of a self-managed digital exercise programme, Safe Step, in combination with monthly educational videos with educational videos alone, on falls over 1 year in older community-dwelling adults.METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A two-arm parallel randomised controlled trial will be conducted with at least 1400 community-living older adults (70+ years) who experience impaired balance. Participants will be recruited throughout Sweden with enrolment through the project website. They will be randomly allocated to either the Safe Step exercise programme with additional monthly educational videos about healthy ageing and fall prevention, or the monthly education videos alone. Participants receiving the exercise intervention will be asked to exercise at home for at least 30 min, 3 times/week with support of the Safe Step application. The primary outcome will be rate of falls (fall per person year). Participants will keep a fall calendar and report falls at the end of each month through a digital questionnaire. Further assessments of secondary outcomes will be made through self-reported questionnaires and a self-test of 30 s chair stand test at baseline and 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after study start. Data will be analysed according to the intention-to-treat principle.ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was obtained by The Regional Ethical Review Board in Umeå (Dnr 2018/433-31). Findings will be disseminated through the project web-site, peer-reviewed journals, national and international conferences and through senior citizen organisations' newsletters.TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03963570

Canine ex vivo tarsal arthrodesis: fixation by using a new bone tissue glue

IntroductionArthrodesis, performed as a salvage surgical procedure to treat intractable joint conditions in dogs and cats, is associated with a high incidence of complications intra and postoperative, proving the need for improved and new techniques in arthrodesis surgery. Adding a new resorbable bone glue to the arthrodesis could potentially add fixation strength and lower complications. The objectives of this experimental ex vivo biomechanical study were therefore to develop a biomechanical test model of partial tarsal arthrodesis and to determine whether the new resorbable bone glue (phosphoserine modified cement) produced measurable fixation strength in canine calcaneoquartal arthrodesis, without orthopedic implants.MethodsFour biomechanical test models with a total of 35 canine tarsal joints were used. Soft tissues were dissected to 4 different test models with variable contributions from soft tissues. The calcaneoquartal joint was prepared as in vivo arthrodesis and the glue was applied to joint surfaces as a liquid/putty (0.4 cc). After curing for 24 h, a shear force was applied to the joint (1 mm per minute) and the failure strength was recorded.ResultsCalcaneoquartal joints, where all soft tissues had been completely resected and fixated with glue (1–1.5 cm2 joint surface), withstood 2–5 mm of displacement and an average of 100 ± 58 N/cm2 of shear force (Model 1). Similar adhesive fixation strengths were obtained in Model 2 and 3 with increasing contributions from soft tissues (80 ± 44 and 63 ± 23 N/cm2, p = 0.39, ANOVA).ConclusionThe developed biomechanical model was sensitive enough to measure differences in fixation strengths between different glue formulations. The average fixation strength (60–100 N/cm2) should be strong enough to support short-term load bearing in medium sized canines (20 kg). The developed cadaver biomechanical test model is of potential use for other arthrodesis studies. The new resorbable glue can potentially contribute to stability at arthrodesis surgery, acting as a complement to today’s standard fixation, metal implants