Livscykelanalys av behandlingsprocesser för flygaska från avfallsförbränning

EasyMining Sweden AB, a subsidiary to Ragn-Sells AB, has developed a new process for treatment of fly ash from municipal solid waste incineration called Ash2Salt, which enables recycling of salts; sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride and ammonium sulphate. To compare this new process with some of today’s fly ash treatment processes available for Swedish and European fly ash a life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed. The functional unit used for the comparison was “treatment or disposal of 1 ton of fly ash” and the environmental impact was compared through four different categories: climate change (kg CO2- eq), depletion of abiotic resources (kg Sb-eq), ecotoxicity (CTUe) and human toxicity (CTUh). The results showed that the Ash2Salt process had the lowest environmental impact considering all the studied environmental impact categories, which mainly depends on the assumption that the salts recycled from fly ash replaces conventionally produced salts. The treatment process with the highest environmental impact was the process of stabilising and refilling old salt mines in Germany, mainly because of the long distances of transport. Further on, the environmental impact from recycling the salts from fly ash using the Ash2Salt method was compared to conventional salt production processes. The functional unit used for the comparison was “production of 1 kg of salt”. Economic allocation was assessed between the salts from the Ash2Salt process. The results showed that for two of the impact categories (climate change and depletion of abiotic resources) the salts recycled from fly ash had lower environmental impact than the conventional production processes, but for both toxicity categories potassium chloride and ammonium sulphate had higher environmental impact than the conventional production processes. The reason for this mainly depends on the chosen principle of allocation and the fact that the production of ammonium sulphate in the Ash2Salt process demands more inputs than the other salts in the process

Att iscensätta sin inre värld: en intervjustudie med sexuellt dominanta kvinnor och queerpersoner inom BDSM.

The aim of the study was to gain a deeper understanding of bondage / discipline / domination / submission / sadomasochism (BDSM) regarding psychological needs, psychological processes in relation to practitioners' sexual partners and how practitioners are affected by having a non-normative sexuality. Five self-defined female or queer BDSM-practitioners who practice sexual dominance in a BDSM context were interviewed with semi-structured interview. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis; eight themes and two subthemes were developed. BDSM functions as play with reality where exchange of power and negotiated boundaries contribute to the transcendence of limits and an exploration of the informants' inner world. Aspects such as gender, sense of agency, violence and power are emphasized. Feelings of intimacy are achieved via the play’s mirroring of the practitioner’s sexuality and inner reality. Play has the potential to promote processing and self-development. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.Syftet med studien var att få en fördjupad förståelse för bondage/disciplin/dominans/underkastelse/sadomasochism (BDSM) gällande vad BDSM-utövande fyller för psykologiska behov, vilka psykologiska processer som sker i relationen till utövarnas sexpartners samt hur utövarna påverkas av att ha en normbrytande sexualitet. Fem självdefinierade BDSM-utövare, kvinnor och queerpersoner, som utövar sexuell dominans intervjuades med semistrukturerade intervjuer. Materialet analyserades med hjälp av tematisk analys och åtta teman med två subteman togs fram. BDSM fungerar som en lek med verkligheten där maktförskjutning och de framförhandlade gränserna bidrar till gränsöverskridande och ett utforskande av informanternas inre värld. Aspekter som genus, agens, våld och makt lyfts fram. Att få sin sexualitet och inre verklighet speglad under utövandet tycks bidra till en ökad känsla av intimitet och närhet. Utövandet har potential att leda till bearbetning och självutveckling. Förslag till framtida forskning diskuteras

Marknadsföring i förändring. En studie om användandet av medveten uppmärksamhet inom reklambranschen.

Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka hur kommunikations- och reklambyråer ser på de förändringar som sker i samhället. Vidare är vårt syfte att undersöka hur de arbetar för att effektivt kommunicera ut budskap till önskad mottagare genom att medvetet skapa uppmärksamhet. Vi har använt oss av en kvalitativ metod med ett abduktivt tillvägagångssätt där litteratur och empiri tillsammans legat till grund för det fortsatta arbetet. Vår empiri har utgjorts av åtta stycken kommunikations- och reklambyråer där fem stycken ingick i en första intervjuomgång och de övriga tre i en andra. Det finns en medvetenhet om att dagens samhälle står inför ständiga förändringar i och med faktorer som tillänglig teknik, information och på grund av att nya generationer växer upp. Vid planering av marknadsföringsaktiviteter görs en anpassning till dessa nya förutsättningar och det används olika metoder när budskap sänds ut men emellertid spelar det mindre roll vilken etikett de har

Reduced clot strength upon admission, evaluated by thrombelastography (TEG), in trauma patients is independently associated with increased 30-day mortality

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Exsanguination due to uncontrolled bleeding is the leading cause of potentially preventable deaths among trauma patients. About one third of trauma patients present with coagulopathy on admission, which is associated with increased mortality and will aggravate bleeding in a traumatized patient. Thrombelastographic (TEG) clot strength has previously been shown to predict outcome in critically ill patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate this relation in the trauma setting.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A retrospective study of trauma patients with an injury severity qualifying them for inclusion in the European Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN) and a TEG analysis performed upon arrival at the trauma centre.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eighty-nine patients were included. The mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 21 with a 30-day mortality of 17%. Patients with a reduced clot strength (maximal amplitude < 50 mm) evaluated by TEG, presented with a higher ISS 27 (95% CI, 20-34) vs. 19 (95% CI, 17-22), p = 0.006 than the rest of the cohort. Clot strength correlated with the amount of packed red blood cells (p = 0.01), fresh frozen plasma (p = 0.04) and platelet concentrates (p = 0.03) transfused during the first 24 hours of admission. Patients with low clot strength demonstrated increased 30-day mortality (47% vs. 10%, p < 0.001). By logistic regression analysis reduced clot strength was an independent predictor of increased mortality after adjusting for age and ISS.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Low clot strength upon admission is independently associated with increased 30-day mortality in trauma patients and it could be speculated that targeted interventions based on the result of the TEG analysis may improve patient outcome. Prospective randomized trials investigating this potential are highly warranted.</p

Tidsmässig eventutveckling

Problematisering: Event som fenomen har under de senaste decennierna fått stor genomslagskraft och har kommit att bli ett populärt forum för skapande av nya tjänsterelationer och affärsmöjligheter. Forskningen kring event ur ett utvecklingsperspektiv är knapp. Vi ser därmed en möjlighet i att bidra med förbättrad kunskap kring tidsmässig eventutveckling genom att plocka in ett tjänsteutvecklingsperspektiv. Syfte: Syftet är att beskriva och analysera kritiska aspekter vid tidsmässig utveckling av event. Metod: Denna uppsats har för avsikt att utöka forskningen kring tidsmässig eventutveckling. För att åstadkomma detta har vi applicerat event till tjänsteutvecklingsteorier. Den litteratur vi använt har bestått av ett urval böcker författade av erkända forskare inom event och tjänsteutveckling samt artiklar och tidigare forskning kring dessa områden. För att illustrera eventutveckling har vi genomfört kvalitativa intervjuer med Swedish Opens organisation och utvalda sponsorer. Vi har dessutom tagit del och använt oss av en publikmätning genomförd år 2008. Slutsats: Vår studie påvisar hur det vid tidsmässig utveckling av event är betydelsefullt att beakta samtliga inblandade parter och förstå det ömsesidiga beroende dem emellan samt att se hur de olika parterna tillsammans verkar för att skapa framgång

RED, PEF, and EPD: Conflicting rules for determining the carbon footprint of biofuels give unclear signals to fuel producers and customers

Biofuel producers and other commodity suppliers are increasingly affected by conflicting rules for life cycle assessment (LCA). They may get multiple requests for LCAs to be used in various contexts, which require the application of different methodological approaches that vary in scope, system boundaries, data demand, and more. This results in increased cost and competence requirements for producers, as well as confusion among other actors including their customers. Differences in methodologies might also lead to various outcomes, conclusions and conflicting guidance regarding which fuels to prioritize or develop. We have analyzed the actual differences when applying three different frameworks: the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED), the EU framework for Product Environmental Footprints (PEF), and the framework of Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), which have different modeling requirements. We analyzed the methods from a conceptual point of view and also applied the methods to estimate the carbon footprint on a wide range of biofuel production pathways: (i) ethanol from corn, (ii) fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) from rapeseed oil, (iii) biogas from food waste, (iv) hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) from rapeseed oil, and (v) HVO from used cooking oil. Results obtained for a specific fuel could differ substantially depending on the framework applied and the assumptions and interpretations made when applying the different frameworks. Particularly, the results are very sensitive to the modeling of waste management when biofuel is produced from waste. Our results indicate a much higher climate impact for, e.g., biogas and HVO produced from used cooking oil when assessed with the PEF framework compared to the other frameworks. This is because PEF assigns at least part of the production of primary materials and energy to the use of recycled material and recovered energy. Developing Category Rules for biofuels for PEF and EPD ought to help clarifying remaining ambiguities

Innføring av vaginalpinne som diagnostisk test

Tema/ problemstilling: Klamydia er en svært vanlig seksuelt overførbar infeksjon (SOI). I skandinaviske studier anslås prevalensen å være 1- 8 %. Hos kvinner er 60-80 % av klamydia tilfellende asymptomatiske. Klamydia er en viktig årsak til ekstrauterine graviditeter, infertilitet og barnløshet, og til kroniske bekkenplager. Det finnes tre diagnostiske tester for genital klamydiainfeksjon: urinprøve, cervix prøve og vaginalpinne. Dette kvalitetsforbedringsprosjektet går ut på å finne den optimale diagnostiske testen for klamydia hos kvinner. Det kartlegges hva som skal til for å implementere tiltaket ved et kontaktet legekontor. Kunnskapsgrunnlag: Her ble søkemotoren McMaster pluss brukt med følgende PICO spørsmål: ”chlamydia diagnostic test sensitivity”. I tillegg ble norske retningslinjer hentet fra norsk elektronisk legehåndbok og hjemmesidene til Helsedirektoratet og Folkehelseinstituttet. Alle retningslinjer anbefaler analyse av prøvematerialet ved hjelp av NAAT-teknikk. Prøvematerialet kan være fra cervix, vagina eller urin. UpToDate, Norsk elektronisk legehåndbok og Health Protectition Agency anbefaler bruk av vaginalpinne som diagnostisk metode. BestPractice og Helsedirektoratet skiller ikke mellom test ved første urinporsjon og vaginalpinne. Spesifisiteten var 98% for alle tre testene. Gjennomgående hadde vaginalpinne høyest sensitivitet, men konfidensintervallene overlappet. Tiltak/kvalitetsindikator: Tiltaket for prosjektet er å endre diagnostisk test for genital klamydiainfeksjon hos kvinner fra første urinporsjon til vaginalpinne på et legekontor. Prosjektets hovedkvalitetsindikator er en prosessindikator: andel vaginalpinner av innsendte klamydiaprøver fra kvinner. I tillegg kan strukturindikator med fokus på tilgjengelig utstyr og kompetanseutvikling benyttes. Resultatindikator i form av færre komplikasjoner ble vurdert, men er mer anvendelig i større studier og lenger tids oppfølging. Dagens praksis: I dette prosjektet ble det opprettet et samarbeid med et fastlegekontor på østlandet. Ved fastlegekontoret tas alle pasienter som testes for klamydia inn til konsultasjon. Under 10 pasienter tester for klamydia i halvåret. Kvinner med symptomer undersøkes ved en gynekologisk undersøkelse og asymptomatiske kvinner leverer urinprøve før konsultasjon. Prosess, ledelse og organisasjon: Langley og Nolans PUKK-sirkel brukes som et praktisk verktøy i dette forbedringsarbeidet. En av legesekretærene er ansvarlig for implementering av tiltaket og tilgjengelighet av utstyr og informasjon. Fastlegen har det overordnede faglige ansvar, ved å følge med på endringer av retningslinjer. Alle ansatte ved legekontoret og pasientene som testes bør kjenne til riktig prøvetakning ved klamydia. For å kontrollere at tiltaket er implementert registreres andel innsendte vaginalpinner hver 6. måned. Basert på gjennomføringsgraden og hvordan tiltaket fungerer i praksisen, foretas det en korrigering. Konklusjon: Litteraturen gir ikke entydig svar på hvilken diagnostisk test som bør benyttes ved mistenkt genital klamydiainfeksjon. Konfidensintervallene for testenes sensitivitet er overlappende, men punktestimatet for vaginalpinne ligger høyere enn for de to andre. Vaginalpinne har i tillegg det smaleste konfidensintervallet. Da legekontoret tester under ti kvinner i halvåret vil tiltaket ha konsekvenser for få kvinner, men viktig for å unngå falsk negativ svar hos den enkelte kvinne. Prosjektet konkluderer med at tiltaket er gjennomførbart og bør implementeres i praksis

The influence of the NOD Nss1/Idd5 loci on sialadenitis and gene expression in salivary glands of congenic mice

The nonobese diabetic (NOD) Nss1 and Idd5 loci have been associated with sialadenitis development in mice. In this study the NOD Nss1 and Idd5 loci were backcrossed onto the healthy control strain B10.Q by using the speed congenic breeding strategy, resulting in three congenic strains: B10.Q.Nss1, B10.Q.Nss1/Idd5 heterozygous and B10.Q.Nss1/Idd5 homozygous. We investigated the effects of the Nss1 and Idd5 loci on sialadenitis and gene expression in NOD congenic mice. One submandibular salivary gland from each mouse was used for histological analysis of sialadenitis, whereas the contralateral salivary gland was used for gene expression profiling with the Applied Biosystems Mouse Genome Survey chip v.1.0. The results were validated using quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR. The NOD Nss1 and Idd5 loci had clear influence on the onset and progression of sialadenitis in congenic mice. Double congenic mice exhibited the most severe phenotype. We successfully identified several genes that are located in the NOD congenic regions to be differentially expressed between the congenic strains and the control strain. Several of these were found to be co-regulated, such as Stat1, complement component C1q genes and Tlr12. Also, a vast contingency of interferon-regulated genes (such as Ltb, Irf7 and Irf8) and cytokine and chemokine genes (such as Ccr7 and Ccl19) were differentially expressed between the congenic strains and the control strain. Over-representation of inflammatory signalling pathways was observed among the differentially expressed genes. We have found that the introgression of the NOD loci Nss1 and Idd5 on a healthy background caused sialadenitis in NOD congenic mouse strains, and we propose that genes within these loci are important factors in the pathogenesis. Furthermore, gene expression profiling has revealed several differentially expressed genes within and outside the NOD loci that are similar to genes found to be differentially expressed in patients with Sjögren's syndrome, and as such are interesting candidates for investigation to enhance our understanding of disease mechanisms and to develop future therapies

Skewed distribution of proinflammatory CD4+CD28null T cells in rheumatoid arthritis

Expanded populations of CD4+ T cells lacking the co-stimulatory molecule CD28 (CD4+CD28null T cells) have been reported in several inflammatory disorders. In rheumatoid arthritis, increased frequencies of CD4+CD28null T cells in peripheral blood have previously been associated with extra-articular manifestations and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection, but their presence in and contribution to joint manifestations is not clear. In the present article we investigated the distribution of CD4+CD28null T cells in the synovial membrane, synovial fluid and peripheral blood of RA patients, and analysed the association with erosive disease and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies. CD4+CD28null T cells were infrequent in the synovial membrane and synovial fluid, despite significant frequencies in the circulation. Strikingly, the dominant TCR-Vβ subsets of CD4+CD28null T cells in peripheral blood were often absent in synovial fluid. CD4+CD28null T cells in blood and synovial fluid showed specificity for HCMV antigens, and their presence was clearly associated with HCMV seropositivity but not with anti-citrullinated protein antibodies in the serum or synovial fluid, nor with erosive disease. Together these data imply a primary role for CD4+CD28null T cells in manifestations elsewhere than in the joints of patients with HCMV-seropositive rheumatoid arthritis