Health-promoting places in the growing city : a design proposal for Sävja church’s outdoor environment with a focus on mental recovery and stress reduction

Dagens samhälle växer konstant och urbaniseringen sker i allt högre grad. Exploatering och förtätning anses vara en naturlig del av samhällsutvecklingen och kan i teorin generera en god livsmiljö. Däremot medför fenomenet även en ökad mental belastning och stress på grund av det höga tempot inne i städerna i kombination med stora flöden av nya intryck samt brist på tid för återhämtning. I linje med att städerna expanderar tas rekreationsområden i anspråk för bebyggelse och avståndet till naturen ökar då stadsgränser vidgas. Detta ger upphov till att många invånare inte finner tid till att spendera tid i naturen vilken forskning anser är väsentligt för att säkerställa en god folkhälsa i de växande städerna. Bristen på bostadsnära grönytor i exploaterande stadsdelar är ytterst relevant för nutidens verksamma landskapsarkitekter. Dilemmat väcker funderingar kring hur det är möjligt att öka tillgången på grönytor för att säkerställa en hållbar utveckling av framtidens städer. Sävja kyrka, i sydöstra Uppsala, omges av 0,6 hektar naturmark som i dagsläget upplevs otillgänglig och outnyttjad. Sydöstra Uppsala står inför en större exploatering vilket gör detta till ett fall där kvaliteten på de existerande grönområdena bör vara en prioritering. Genom ett gestaltningsförslag för Sävja kyrkas utomhusmiljö, som avser att främja återhämtning och stressreducering, kan en större målgrupp ta del av naturen. Förslaget utgör uppsatsens resultat och ämnar göra Sävja kyrkas utomhusmiljö till en hälsofrämjande plats som riktar sig till kyrkans besökare och verksamhet men även boende i närområdet. Den övergripande metoden för detta projekt är evidensbaserad design. Gestaltningens stomme utgörs av en förstudie som syftar till att förklara sambandet mellan vistelse i naturen och påskyndad återhämtning samt skapa förståelse för platsen, dess verksamheter, målgrupper, möjligheter och utmaningar. Informationen från förstudien har sedan översatts i en programplan som ligger till grund för gestaltningen som avser att främja återhämtning och stressreducering. Gestaltningsförslaget, Pärlor i det gröna, gör Sävja kyrkas utomhusmiljö till en tillgänglig grönmiljö som erbjuder olika former av återhämtning anpassade efter olika behov, mående och sinnestillstånd. Även kopplingen till omgivande natur har stärkts. Förslagets grundstomme utgörs av vegetation och planteringsytor som kompletteras av byggda strukturer i form av vistelseytor integrerade i det gröna. Detta gör det möjligt för besökare att spendera en längre tid på platsen och ta del av miljöns återhämtande och stressreducerande kvaliteter. Gestaltningen av Sävja kyrkas utomhusmiljö visar hur det är möjligt att genom landskapsarkitektur bidra till att främja folkhälsan genom att säkerställa tillgången på högkvalitativa bostadsnära grönytor.Today's society is constantly growing, and urbanization is becoming an increasingly common phenomenon. Exploitation and densification are nowadays a natural part of community development and can theoretically generate a suitable living environment. However, it also causes increasing mental strain and stress due to the fast pace inside the city, lots of impressions daily, and lack of time to recover. When cities expand, recreational areas are often used for development, and the distance to nature increases as city boundaries expand. Due to the growing distances, many residents do not find time to spend time in nature daily, which research believes is essential to ensure good public health in the growing cities. The lack of green spaces close to residential areas on account of exploitation is highly relevant to today's landscape architects. The dilemma raises questions about how it is possible to increase the availability of green spaces to ensure the sustainable development of future cities. Sävja church, in southeast Uppsala, is surrounded by 0.6 hectares of natural land, which is currently perceived as inaccessible and untapped. Southeastern Uppsala is facing significant development, which makes this a case where the quality of the existing green areas should be a priority. A larger target group can appreciate nature through a design proposal for Sävja church's outdoor environment, which intends to promote recovery and stress reduction. The proposal is the result of the essay and intends to make Sävja church's outdoor environment a health-promoting place for the church's visitors and residents in the immediate area. The methodology for this project is evidence-based design. The design framework consists of a preliminary study that aims to explain the connection between staying in nature and accelerated recovery and to create an understanding of the place, its activities, target groups, opportunities, and challenges. The information from the preliminary study has then been translated into a program plan that forms the basis of the design, which aims to promote recovery and stress reduction. The design proposal, Pearls in the green, makes Sävja church's outdoor environment into an accessible green environment that offers different forms of recovery adapted to different needs, moods, and states of mind. The connection to the surrounding nature has also been strengthened. The basic structure of the proposal consists of vegetation and planting areas which are complemented by built structures in the form of sojourn areas integrated into the green. This enables visitors to spend a longer time at the site and participate in the environment's recovering and stress-reducing qualities. The design of Sävja church's outdoor environment shows how it is possible to promote public health through landscape architecture by ensuring the availability of high-quality green areas close to residential areas

A healthy dose of Lynch : a study of how health-enhancing environmental qualities can be included in analysis methods based on Kevin Lynch’s theory

Omfattande trender av urbanisering och förtätning har medfört hälsorelaterade utmaningar, då urbana grönområden ofta tas i anspråk för exploatering. Medan många studier har undersökt grönområdens olika hälsorelaterade fördelar, har desto färre behandlat en inkludering av hälsoaspekter i välanvända stadsplaneringsteorier. Denna uppsats har till syfte att undersöka möjligheten att inkludera hälsofrämjande miljökvaliteter i Kevin Lynchs teori om stadens fem element, som används vid analys och utformning av städer. Detta för att utveckla en analysmetod baserad på Lynchs teori som möjliggör att hälsofrämjande aspekter tas i hänsyn. Hälsoaspekter representeras teoretiskt av perceived sensory dimensions (PSDs), vilka uttrycker åtta generella mänskliga behov i relation till urbana grönområden. Relationen mellan PSDs och Lynchs teori undersöks genom att tillämpa teorierna i analyser av Eriksberg, Uppsala, och sedan jämföra resultatet av de båda analyserna med varandra. Resultatet visar att det finns samband mellan PSDs och Lynchs teori, där PSDs kan användas för att utveckla en analysmetod baserad på Lynchs teori. I analysmetoden tillför PSDs beskrivningar om vilka hälsofrämjande kvaliteter elementen innehar eller bidrar med. Indelningen av PSDs i motsatspar kan också vara ett verktyg i analysmetoden, för att bättre förstå olika platsers förutsättningar och behov. Utvecklingen av analysmetoden är ett första steg i framtagandet av ett verktyg som kan försäkra att hälsofrämjande aspekter tas i hänsyn vid analys och utformning av städer.Comprehensive trends of urbanisation and densification have brought challenges regarding health aspects, as urban green spaces often frequently become the site of for new buildings. While many studies have examined different health benefits of green spaces, fewer have concerned the inclusion of health aspects in well-used urban planning theories. This thesis aims to review the possibilities of including health-enhancing environmental qualities in Kevin Lynch’s theory of the five elements of the city, which is used in urban analysis and design. This in order to develop an analysis method based on Lynch’s theory that enables health-enhancing aspects to be taken into consideration. The health aspects are theoretically represented by perceived sensory dimensions (PSDs), which express eight general human needs in relation to urban green spaces. The relationship between PSDs and Lynch’s theory is examined by applying the theories in analyses of Eriksberg, Uppsala, then comparing the results of both analyses with each other. The result shows that there are connections between the PSDs and Lynch’s theory, where the PSDs can function as a tool for further developing an analysis method based on Lynch’s theory. In the analysis method, the PSDs add descriptions of which health-enhancing qualities the elements have or contribute to. The division of PSDs in opposing pairs can also be a tool in the analysis method, to better understand the conditions and needs of different places. The development of the analysis method is a first step in creating a tool that can ensure that health-enhancing qualities are considered in urban analysis and design

Preservation and alteration at Östra kyrkogården in Malmö : a design proposal for the memory grove and surrounding area

I dagens urbaniserade samhälle avtar intresset för den traditionella begravningsplatsen samtidigt som trycket på stadsnära grönytor ökar. Detta har lett till att begravningsplatser i allt större utsträckning används likt parker vilket har gett upphov till konflikt. Begravningsplatser skyddas i många fall av lagar som strävar efter att bevara dess befintliga karaktär och funktion. I linje med detta är förändring av begravningsplatser utmanande samtidigt som det är nödvändigt för att tillgodose samhällets nya behov. Behovet av anpassning har bland annat uppmärksammats i Malmö där Östra kyrkogården, gestaltad av Lewerentz, står inför förändring. Begravningsplatsens minneslund och omgivande yta behöver utvecklas för att följa med i tiden medan dess ursprungliga karaktär inte får gå förlorad. Uppsatsen ämnar undersöka möjligheten till utveckling av begravnings-platser, med hänsyn till kraven för bevarande, samt den nutida synen på begravningsplatsers funktion i samhället. En litteraturstudie och ett platsbesök, på Östra kyrkogården, ligger till grund för en analys som redogör för slutsatser gällande vilka aktiviteter som bör prioriteras. Dessa sammanställs sedan i en gestaltning, av minneslunden och omgivande yta, där balansen mellan bevarande och förändring behandlas. Gestaltningen landade i förslaget ”Cirklar av liv” och stora delar av platsens befintliga karaktär har bevarats med hänsyn till dess kulturhistoriska arv. Tilläggen avser främst att gynna platsens återhämtande kvalitéer och men även tillåta rekreativ aktivitet.Interest in the traditional cemetery decreases while the need for green spaces close to the city escalates in today’s urbanized society. This has led to an increasing use of cemeteries as recreational parks, which has given rise to conflict. Cemeteries are most often protected by laws that strive to preserve their existing character and function. Accordingly, reshaping cemeteries is challenging and at the same time a necessity to meet the needs of society. The need for adaptation has been noticed in Malmö, among other places, where Östra kyrkogården, designed by Lewerentz, is facing change. The memorial grove and surrounding area need to be restored and developed, to adapt to today’s society, while its original character must be preserved. This essay intends to investigate the possibility of developing cemeteries, with regard to the requirements for preservation, as well as the current view of the function of cemeteries in modern society. A literature study and a visit at the Östra kyrkogården, form a basis for the analysis that presents conclusions considering which activities should be prioritized. The memorial grove and surrounding area are then complied and interpretated in a landscape plan, and the balance between preservation and alteration is taken under consideration. The design landed in the proposal “Circles of Life” where large parts of the existing character of the place have been preserved with consideration to its cultural heritage. The additions made are primarily intended to promote the restorative qualities of the site but also allow recreational activity

It doesn’t work on its own! : a case study of the project ‘Alsike klosterby’

Syftet med detta kandidatarbete inom ämnet landsbygdsutveckling, är att undersöka och beskriva hur ideellt engagemang rörande flyktingintegration- och miljöfrågor kan organiseras på lokal nivå. Jag har studerat ett projekt som i dagsläget drivs på Alsike kloster som ligger strax utanför Knivsta, i Uppland. Projektet syftar till att etablera en ekologisk klosterby vars mål är integrera flyktingarbete med ett hållbart ekologiskt levnadssätt. Föreliggande studie bygger på intervjuer med projektdeltagare samt observationer från planeringsmöten med projektet. Med hjälp av begreppen sociala nätverk, ideell organisation och komplexa system försöker jag beskriva och förstå hur detta specifika projekt organiseras, vilka drivkrafter som ligger bakom engagemanget hos projektdeltagarna samt vad som upplevs som möjligheter och svårigheter i projektets arbetsprocess. Studien visar att projektet omfattar flera sociala nätverk som via sociala relationer kopplas sam-man och bidrar till projektarbetets framgång. Därtill visar studien att projektet präglas av flexibilitet då de ofta prövar sig fram, snarare än följer en alltför given plan. Studien av projektet ’Alsike klosterby’ kan bidra till förståelsen av sociala nätverks betydelse för organisering av projekt.The aim of this bachelor thesis in rural development is to describe how engagement concerning issues of integration of refugees- and environmental can be organized at a local level. I have studied a project that is run by Alsike Monastery which is located in a smaller society outside Knivsta, Uppland County. The aim of the project is to combine work with integration of refugees with ecological farming. The study is based on several interviews with project participants and observations from the project’s planning meetings. I have with help from theories about social networks, non-profit organizations and complex systems, tried to describe and understand how this specific project is organized, what driving forces the participants have as well as the perceived possibilities and challenges in the working process. This study shows that the project encompasses several social networks that are connected through social relations contributing to the success of the project. Moreover, the study depicts the uniqueness of the project as well as its flexibility. The project often tries different routes, evaluating along the way, rather than following a pre-made plan. The study of ‘Alsike Monastry Village’ can contribute to the understanding of the importance of social networks in the organization of projects

Broad-Spectrum Antibiotic Treatment and Subsequent Childhood Type 1 Diabetes: A Nationwide Danish Cohort Study

International audienceBackground: Treatment with antibiotics in early childhood is effective for bacterial infections but may have long-term side effects. We evaluated the effect of broad-spectrum antibiotics treatment during the first two years of life in association with mode of delivery on subsequent onset of childhood type 1 diabetes.Methods: A Danish Nationwide cohort study included all singletons born during 1997-2010. Five national registers provided information on antibiotic redemption, outcome and confounders. The risk of type 1 diabetes with onset before the age of 15 years was assessed by Cox regression. A total of 858,201 singletons contributed 5,906,069 person- years, during which 1,503 children were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.Results: Redemption of broad-spectrum antibiotics during the first two years of life was associated with an increased rate of type 1 diabetes during the following 13 years of life (HR 1.13; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.25), however, the rate was modified by mode of delivery. Broad- spectrum antibiotics were associated with an increased rate of type 1 diabetes in children delivered by either intrapartum cesarean section (HR 1.70; 95% CI 1.15 to 2.51) or prelabor cesarean section (HR 1.63; 95% CI 1.11 to 2.39), but not in vaginally delivered children. Number needed to harm was 433 and 562, respectively. The association with broad-spectrum antibiotics was not modified by parity, genetic predisposition or maternal redemption of antibiotics during pregnancy or lactation.Conclusions: Redemption of broad-spectrum antibiotics during infancy is associated with an increased risk of childhood type 1 diabetes in children delivered by cesarean section

Inventory study of an early pandemic COVID- 19 cohort in South-Eastern Sweden, focusing on neurological manifestations

Background Neurological manifestations in patients with COVID-19 have been reported previously as outcomes of the infection. The purpose of current study was to investigate the occurrence of neurological signs and symptoms in COVID-19 patients, in the county of 6sterg\uf6tland in southeastern Sweden. Methods This is a retrospective, observational cohort study. Data were collected between March 2020 and June 2020. Information was extracted from medical records by a trained research assistant and physician and all data were validated by a senior neurologist. Results Seventy-four percent of patients developed at least one neurological symptom during the acute phase of the infection. Headache (43%) was the most common neurological symptom, followed by anosmia and/or ageusia (33%), confusion (28%), hallucinations (17%), dizziness (16%), sleep disorders in terms of insomnia and OSAS (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) (9%), myopathy and neuropathy (8%) and numbness and tingling (5%). Patients treated in the ICU had a higher male presentation (73%). Several risk factors in terms of co-morbidities, were identified. Hypertension (54.5%), depression and anxiety (51%), sleep disorders in terms of insomnia and OSAS (30%), cardiovascular morbidity (28%), autoimmune diseases (25%), chronic lung diseases (24%) and diabetes mellitus type 2 (23%) founded as possible risk factors. Conclusion Neurological symptoms were found in the vast majority (74%) of the patients. Accordingly, attention to neurological, mental and sleep disturbances is warranted with involvement of neurological expertise, in order to avoid further complications and long-term neurological effect of COVID-19. Furthermore, risk factors for more severe COVID-19, in terms of possible co-morbidities that identified in this study should get appropriate attention to optimizing treatment strategies in COVID-19 patients

Rosette-Disrupting Effect of an Anti-Plasmodial Compound for the Potential Treatment of Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Complications

The spread of artemisinin-resistant parasites could lead to higher incidence of patients with malaria complications. However, there are no current treatments that directly dislodge sequestered parasites from the microvasculature. We show that four common antiplasmodial drugs do not disperse rosettes (erythrocyte clusters formed by malaria parasites) and therefore develop a cell-based high-throughput assay to identify potential rosette-disrupting compounds. A pilot screen of 2693 compounds identified Malaria Box compound MMV006764 as a potential candidate. Although it reduced rosetting by a modest 20%, MMV006764 was validated to be similarly effective against both blood group O and A rosettes of three laboratory parasite lines. Coupled with its antiplasmodial activity and drug-likeness, MMV006764 represents the first small-molecule compound that disrupts rosetting and could potentially be used in a resource-limited setting to treat patients deteriorating rapidly from malaria complications. Such dual-action drugs that simultaneously restore microcirculation and reduce parasite load could significantly reduce malaria morbidity and mortality

The interactive role of predation, competition and habitat conditions in structuring an intertidal bivalve population

Habitat characteristics, predation and competition are known to interactively drive population dynamics. Highly complex habitats, for example, may reduce predation and competition, allowing more individuals living together in a certain area. However, the strength and direction of such interactions can differ strongly and are context dependent. Furthermore, as habitat characteristics are rapidly changing due to anthropogenic impacts, it becomes increasingly important to understand such interactions. Here, we studied the interactive effects of predation and competition on common cockle (Cerastoderma edule) recruitment, growth and survival under different habitat characteristics in the Wadden Sea, one of the world's largest intertidal ecosystems. In a predator-exclosure experiment, we manipulated cockle densities (100 vs. 1000 individuals m-2) and shorebird predation at two sites differing in habitat characteristics, namely at the wake of a blue mussel bed (Mytilus edulis) and at an adjacent sandy site. We found that recruitment was higher in the mussel-modified habitat, most likely due to reduction of hydrodynamic stress. Although bird predation strongly reduced recruit density, the combined effects still yielded more recruitment at the vicinity of the mussel bed compared to the sandy area. Furthermore, we found that high cockle densities combined with high densities of other potential prey (i.e. mussels) at the mussel-modified site, mitigated predation effects for adult cockles. Apart from these positive effects on adults, mussel-modified habitat reduced cockle growth, most likely by reducing hydrodynamics in the wake of the mussel bed and by increasing inter-specific competition for food. Our study experimentally underpins the importance of habitat characteristics, competition and predation in interactively structuring intertidal communities