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Tracking genetic changes of populations through time allows a more direct study of the evolutionary processes acting on the population than a single contemporary sample. Several statistical methods have been developed to characterize the demography and selection from temporal population genetic data. However, these methods are usually developed under the assumption of outcrossing reproduction and might not be applicable when there is substantial selfing in the population. Here, we focus on a method to detect loci under selection based on a genome scan of temporal differentiation, adapting it to the particularities of selfing populations. Selfing reduces the effective recombination rate and can extend hitch-hiking effects to the whole genome, erasing any local signal of selection on a genome scan. Therefore, selfing is expected to reduce the power of the test. By means of simulations, we evaluate the performance of the method under scenarios of adaptation from new mutations or standing variation at different rates of selfing. We find that the detection of loci under selection in predominantly selfing populations remains challenging even with the adapted method. Still, selective sweeps from standing variation on predominantly selfing populations can leave some signal of selection around the selected site thanks to historical recombination before the sweep. Under this scenario, ancestral advantageous alleles at low frequency leave the strongest local signal, while new advantageous mutations leave no local footprint of the sweep.

Majorana bound states emerge in topological superconductors as zero-energy edge states exhibiting spatial nonlocality. Despite the enormous advances, the detection of Majorana bound states is still challenging, mainly because topologically trivial Andreev bound states produce similar signatures. In this work, we consider a topological superconductor with Majorana bound states coupled to quantum dots and investigate the dynamics of their quantum correlations with the aim to explore their entanglement properties. In particular, we characterize entanglement by using concurrence and discord, which are also complemented by entanglement dynamics and return probability. We find that Majorana bound states at truly zero energy can transform an initially entangled system into its classical state, while they can create maximally entangled states at a finite energy overlap. Interestingly, we show that the system can generate a maximally entangled state between MBSs and a quantum dot by simply controlling the Majorana nonlocality. We demonstrate that these results hold in scenarios when the initial state is either maximally entangled or separable, albeit in the latter, maximally entangled states are achieved in the long time dynamics. Furthermore, we contrast our findings with those produced by a regular fermion and obtain very distinct entanglement signatures. Our work offers an alternative approach to characterizing Majorana bound states, which can also be useful towards their utilization for quantum information tasks.

Background and Objectives: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are regulators of gene expression and have been reported to be dysregulated in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) is an immune-ablative treatment intervention for pwMS. Currently, it is unknown if aHSCT affects expression levels of miRNAs in CSF. We explored the ability of circulating miRNA to discriminate between pwMS and healthy controls (HCs) and investigated whether these miRNAs were affected by treatment with aHSCT.

Methods: Using quantitative reverse transcription PCR, 87 miRNAs were analyzed in CSF samples of a discovery cohort (baseline: 4 & HC: 4). The top 22 miRNAs discriminating between pwMS and HCs were then analyzed in 187 CSF samples of a validation cohort (pwMS: 50, HC: 32). Samples, failing quality control or being follow-ups to baseline samples with quality control issues, were excluded from further analyses. The remaining 133 samples (HC: 29, MS: baseline: 33, 1 year: 30, 2 years: 26, 3-5 years: 15) were analyzed for expression of the top 22 miRNAs.

Results: Twelve miRNAs were dysregulated in pwMS compared with HC (q < 0.05). Associations with clinical and analytical parameters were observed in relation to all 12 miRNAs; however, a cluster of 4 miRNAs (miR-16-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-150-5p, and miR-146a-5p) with strong correlations (r > 0.60, p < 0.001) with multiple parameters was identified. Of the 12 miRNAs, 8 were differentially expressed in pwMS with gadolinium-enhancing lesions at baseline and 4 by prior disease-modifying treatment class (p < 0.05). These 4 miRNAs correlated strongly with each other, decreased after aHSCT, and remained low throughout the follow-up period (p < 0.05). Target and pathway analysis of these revealed association with biological processes affecting cytokine production, inflammatory response, and regulation of myelin maintenance.

Discussion: miRNAs are dysregulated in CSF from pwMS and particularly in patients with less effective treatments and/or higher inflammatory disease activity. A 4-miRNA signature with elevated expression of miR-16-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-150-5p, and miR-146a-5p was recurring in multiple analyses. After intervention with aHSCT, the expression levels approached the levels of the HCs, suggesting a potent treatment effect.

The concept of scattering length density tuning for improved polarization is investigated for Fe/11B4⁢CTi multilayers and compared to the commonly used Fe/Si system in polarizing multilayer neutron optics. X-ray and neutron reflectivity, magnetization, and neutron polarization were measured on such multilayers, highlighting differences from conventional Fe/Si multilayers. The multilayer systems were deposited with 25 Å period thickness, a layer thickness ratio of 0.35, and 20 periods using ion-assisted dc magnetron sputtering. Replacing Si with 11B4⁢CTi for these multilayers showed an increase in reflectivity due to a reduction in interface width. Tuning the ratio between 11B4⁢C and Ti in the nonmagnetic layers enabled a wide range of scattering length density contrasting and matching for spin-down neutrons, which in turn led to an improved polarization. These findings demonstrate the potential of Fe/11B4⁢CTi multilayers as a promising option for polarizing neutron optics and highlight the concept of scattering length density tuning in a large range using 11B4⁢CTi.

Objectives

Telehealth and home spirometry feasibility for children has been established, but their impact on cystic fibrosis (CF) disease progression remains unassessed. We aimed to evaluate the effects of telehealth and home spirometry on CF disease progression and care.

Methods

Children with CF aged 5–17 years from all Swedish CF centers were provided with home spirometers. A minimum of two in-person visits were replaced with telemedicine visits and participants were instructed to conduct home spirometry before visits. Linear mixed-effects models were used to compare annual CF disease trajectories during the intervention period and prepandemic period (1 January 2019 to 28 February 2020). Participants and caregivers completed study questionnaires.

Results

A total of 59 individuals completed the study over a mean (SD) period of 6.8 (1.4) months, made 3.1 (1.0) physical visits and 2.2 (0.6) telehealth visits per patient year during the study period. The mean difference (95% CI) between the intervention and prepandemic period progression rate for FEV₁%, lung clearance index and BMI were −0.4 (−1.3 to 0.5, p = 0.39), 0.11 (−0.07 to 0.28, p = 0.25) and −0.02 (−0.13 to 0.08, p = 0.70), respectively. There were no major shifts in the incidence of airway pathogens, sputum cultures, or antibiotics use between the periods (p > 0.05). The intervention did not increase stress. Almost all participants and caregivers expressed a desire to continue with home spirometry and telemedicine.

Conclusion

Combining telehealth and physical visits with access to home spirometry demonstrated comparable effectiveness as exclusively in-person care with enhanced flexibility and personalization of CF care.

In this study, we have applied the Total Monte Carlo (TMC) methodology in the simulation of the de-excitation process of primary fission fragments (FF) within the TALYS code. Our objective was to develop a method for assessing fission model deficiencies and parameter sensitivities. The input fission fragment data used by TALYS were systematically varied. This was done using the GEF code to generate 10,000 random files by randomizing the 94 model parameters of GEF that influence both fission yields and their energy distributions. The GEF parameters were varied randomly within 3% of the default value, assuming a normal probability distribution. As a result of this parameter variation, significant changes could be identified for several observables, including the multiplicities of γ rays and prompt neutrons, as well as their spectra. Additionally, we investigate the impact of angular momentum distribution on the de-excitation data of both GEF and TALYS. Finally, we present an attempt to construct a best parameter file benchmarked against evaluated nuclear data files.

In this paper, we show that incentives to convert temporary contracts into permanent ones might be less effective when the employment protection legislation associated with temporary contracts is lax. Drawing upon rich administrative data and using a difference-in-differences methodology, we estimate that workers at their first work experience hired on more flexible contracts undergo a reduction in the conversion rate to permanent employment of 6.3 percentage points after the implementation of the incentives (and of 3.2 percentage points over a year), compared to peers hired on more rigid contracts. This reduced conversion rate, which results in a 17% wage penalty even 2 years into their professional journey, points to a significant negative impact of flexible temporary jobs on the future prospects of young workers.

Skin microbiomes provide vital functions, yet knowledge about the drivers and processes structuring their species assemblages is limited-especially for non-model organisms. In this study, fish skin microbiome was assessed by high throughput sequencing of amplicon sequence variants from metabarcoding of V3-V4 regions in the 16S rRNA gene on fish hosts subjected to the following experimental manipulations: (i) translocation between fresh and brackish water habitats to investigate the role of environment; (ii) treatment with an antibacterial disinfectant to reboot the microbiome and investigate community assembly and priority effects; and (iii) maintained alone or in pairs to study the role of social environment and inter-host dispersal of microbes. The results revealed that fish skin microbiomes harbour a highly dynamic microbial composition that was distinct from bacterioplankton communities in the ambient water. Microbiome composition first diverged as an effect of translocation to either the brackish or freshwater habitat. When the freshwater individuals were translocated back to brackish water, their microbiome composition converged towards the fish microbiomes in the brackish habitat. In summary, external environmental conditions and individual-specific factors jointly determined the community composition dynamics, whereas inter-host dispersal had negligible effects. The dynamics of the microbiome composition was seemingly non-affected by reboot treatment, pointing towards high resilience to disturbance. The results emphasised the role of inter-individual variability for the unexplained variation found in many host-microbiome systems, although the mechanistic underpinnings remain to be identified.

Context. HD140283, or the Methuselah star, is a well-known reference object in stellar evolution. Its peculiar chemical composition, proximity and absence of reddening makes it an interesting case-study of Pop II stars. Thanks to recent observational efforts, we now have precise interferometric and spectroscopic constraints, as well as revised astrometric parallaxes from the Gaia mission.

Aims. We determine the age of HD140283 with these latest constraints, and we quantify the impact of systematics from physical inaccuracies on the stellar evolution models.

Methods. Using recent spectroscopic abundances from the literature, including 3D non-local thermal equilibrium values for C, O, and Fe, we computed opacity tables specific to HD140283. We then used them in grids of stellar evolution models coupled to a Markov chain Monte Carlo tool to determine the age of HD140283.

Results. With our tailored models we found an age of 12.3 Gy. When we instead used a solar-scaled mixture, we found an age value of 14 Gy, which contradicts theories about the age of the Universe (13.77 ± 0.06 Gy). We also found that a reduction of the mixing-length parameter from its solar calibrated value leads to an even younger age, and this agrees with other recent studies. However, we found no direct evidence that would favour a lower value of the mixing-length parameter based on our modelling.

Conclusions. It is crucial to take the specific elemental abundances into account to model HD140283 because this leads to significant differences in the inferred age. However, this effect is degenerate with a decreasing mixing-length parameter. In this respect, asteroseismic constraints might play a key role in accurately deriving the mass of HD140283, and therefore, in strongly constraining its age.

Introduction: Fewer Falls is a manualised self-management fall prevention programme co-developed for and with ambulatory and non-ambulatory people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Findings from a feasibility study indicate the necessity of a full-scale randomised controlled trial (RCT).

Methods and analysis: A parallel-group RCT with a mixed methods process evaluation as well as a cost-effectiveness evaluation will be conducted. We aim to recruit 240 PwMS, who will be stratified by ambulation level and randomised 1:1 in blocks of eight to intervention or control. The group-based self-management fall prevention intervention involves eight 2-hour online synchronous sessions (approximately eight participants/group) facilitated by a licensed healthcare professional and home assignments to be completed by participants between sessions. The setting is online, and participants can be located anywhere in Sweden. The control and intervention groups will also receive a brochure on fall risk factors and fall prevention in addition to their standard MS care and rehabilitation. Data collection will be performed at baseline and 3, 6 and 12 months after the start of the intervention. Falls will be monitored via a short message service every week during 1 year from the start of the intervention. The primary outcome is fall frequency (falls/person/year). Secondary outcomes include injurious falls, falls control, fear of falling, falls self-efficacy, activity curtailment, perceived effect of MS, self-rated health and cost-effectiveness.

Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval has been obtained from the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (registration numbers 2022-06667-01 and 2023-07723-02). The RCT will adhere to the Declaration of Helsinki. Written consent to participate will be obtained from all participants. Study-related information about participants will be stored securely at Karolinska Institutet. The results will be presented in peer-reviewed journals, through the patient organisation Neuro Sweden, at conferences, and in social media.Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05789225.

This paper concerns migrants in Sweden working in various types of on and offline gig work. It explores how the temporal and spatial flexibility afforded to gig customers is predicated on temporal and spatial inflexibility for workers. The argument moves discussions beyond relational space by promoting a more fully dialectical view of space that understands it as simultaneously relational, relative, and absolute. Without such a view of space-which understands that space is not always open and fluid but just as often closed and fixed-it is impossible to understand the specific relations of labour that structure gig work, particularly offline gig work in such ways as to provide maximal flexibility for customers. This paper shows that the Marxian adage concerning how, in capitalism, space is annihilated by time, does not always hold. For workers doing cleaning and delivery gig work, the converse is oftentimes truer: time is annihilated by space. Gig workers-and even more so migrant gig workers crowded in the above-mentioned industries-experience the annihilation of time by space through the dual mandate that they must be available "just-in-time" and "just-in-place" to produce the spatiotemporal flexibility upon which the gig companies base their model and their success.

This study investigates how historical knowledge can influence women's identification processes. Utilizing empirical data derived from six semi-structured interviews, the analysis is contextualized within a theoretical framework encompassing the constructs of abused memory and political memory, alongside theoretical perspectives on identification. The research addresses several key questions, such as why certain women identify themselves as witches, how the collective memory of the historical trauma linked to the early modern witch trials has evolved, and what impact this evolution has on the individual identity processes of contemporary self-identified witches. The study argues that the identity construction of these individuals can be seen as a cultural process, shaped by the effects of both political and abused memory. The analysis reveals that this cultural process is marked by a significant lack of historical knowledge, and it plays a dual role in both influencing and being influenced by mental health challenges faced by women in search of their identities. 

Isonitrile-derivatized amino acids are emerging as highly effective infrared (IR) probes for investigating the structures and dynamics of hydrogen (H)-bonds. These probes enable the quantification of chemical exchange processes in solute-solvent complexes via two-dimensional IR spectroscopy and hold significant promise for site-specific dynamic studies within proteins. Despite their potential, theoretical models that elucidate the solvatochromism of isonitriles remain underdeveloped. Here, we present the development and validation of a solvatochromic charge model for isonitrile (N equivalent to C) probes. Using density functional theory calculations, we parameterized solvatochromic charges for isonitrile and integrated them into classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of beta-isocyanoalanine in various solvents, including water and fluorinated alcohols. The model incorporates solvent-induced frequency shifts and accurately reproduces complex experimental line shapes, including asymmetric features from non-Gaussian dynamics. The model successfully reproduced the bimodal distribution of frequency shifts corresponding to free and H-bonded species in alcohols, as well as cross-peaks due to chemical exchange. Achieving reproducibility required long MD trajectories, which were computationally demanding. To manage this, we implemented graphics processing unit acceleration, drastically reducing the computational time and enabling the efficient processing of extensive MD data. While some discrepancies in population ratios suggest the need for refined solvent force field parameters and modeling transition dipole moment variations, the developed solvatochromic model is a reliable tool for studying the solvation dynamics. The model enables more detailed investigations of ultrafast dynamics in solute-solvent complexes and represents important steps toward modeling site-specific dynamics of biomolecules with isonitrile probes.

Macrocycles are prominent among drugs for treatment of infectious disease, with many originating from natural products. Herein we report on the discovery of a series of macrocycles structurally related to the natural product hymenocardine. Members of this series were found to inhibit the growth of Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for most malaria cases, and of four kinetoplastid parasites. Notably, macrocycles more potent than miltefosine, the only oral drug used for the treatment of the neglected tropical disease visceral leishmaniasis, were identified in a phenotypic screen of Leishmania infantum. In vitro profiling highlighted that potent inhibitors had satisfactory cell permeability with a low efflux ratio, indicating their potential for oral administration, but low solubility and metabolic stability. Analysis of predicted crystal structures suggests that optimization should focus on the reduction of pi-pi crystal packing interactions to reduce the strong crystalline interactions and improve the solubility of the most potent lead.

Objective

To describe factors associated with quality of couple relationships among parents of infants cared for in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) 1 year after birth and examine the trajectory of the relationship quality compared to parents from maternity units (MUs).

Study design

Longitudinally comparative cohort design. Parents answered surveys during the first year after discharge about the couple relationship, social support, and depressive symptoms.

Results

Better social support and a hospital stay of 7-14 days were positively associated with the couple relationship in NICU mothers, whereas not having slept together with the partner and infant during hospitalization were negatively associated. Depressive symptoms were negatively associated with the relationship among NICU fathers. There were no differences in trajectory of the relationship quality between NICU and MU parents.

Conclusion

To strengthen couple relationships, it could be important to improve social support, facilitate space and time for support, and enable togetherness during hospitalization.

Measured and calculated time-resolved photoelectron spectra and excited-state molecular dynamics simulations of photoexcited gas-phase molecules Fe(CO)₅ and Cr(CO)₆ are presented. Samples were excited with 266 nm pump pulses and probed with 23 eV photons from a femtosecond high-order harmonic generation source. Photoelectron intensities are seen to blue-shift as a function of time from binding energies characteristic of bound electronic excited states via dissociated-state energies toward the energies of the dissociated species for both Fe(CO)₅ and Cr(CO)₆, but differences are apparent. The excited-state and dissociation dynamics are found to be faster in Cr(CO)₆ because the repopulation from bound excited to dissociative excited states is faster. This may be due to stronger coupling between bound and dissociative states in Cr(CO)₆, a notion supported by the observation that the manifolds of bound and dissociative states overlap in a narrow energy range in this system.

An understanding of differences in nonmonetary work conditions is fundamental for a complete characterization of individuals’ well-being at work. Thus, to fully characterize gender inequalities in the labor market, scholars have begun to explore gender differences in nonmonetary work conditions. We examine one such condition—meaningful work—using nationally representative survey data linked with worker and employer administrative data. We document a large and expanding gender gap in meaningful work, wherein women experience their jobs as more meaningful than men do. We then explore patterns underlying this difference. We find little correlation between women’s higher experience of meaningful work and either labor market decisions related to first parenthood or women’s underrepresentation in leadership jobs. Instead, the gender gap appears to be highly correlated with the sorting of more women into occupations with a high level of beneficence: the sense of having a prosocial impact. Though both women and men experience such jobs as more meaningful, women do so by a larger margin. Next, we consider the relationship between the gender difference in meaningful work and the gender wage gap, contributing to the discussion on compensating differentials in work amenities. We find that, whereas the gender gap in meaningful work closes a substantial part of the wage gap in lower paid jobs, it does little to close the gap in higher paid jobs in which the gender wage gap is largest.

Since 1980's, the established/standard treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is cytarabine infusion with anthracycline (7 + 3 regimen). We compared the 7 + 3 regimen in older secondary/high-risk AML patientsfrom a clinical trial with a matched population from the Swedish AML Registrytreated withan increased cytarabine dose in induction and consolidation as recommended in the Swedish National Guidelines since 2005. After successfulpropensity score matching, 104 patients per group were included. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS), and standard dosed patients had a median OS of 6.4 versus 10.7 months with increased dose intensity (hazard ratio:0.69, p = 0.012), with 5-year OS of 8.7% and 18.1%, andremission rates of 36% and 60%, respectively (p < 0.001). Median OS after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (in 27.9% per group) was 10.4 and 20.7 months, respectively. We conclude that the more intensive cytarabine schedule seems to provide improved outcomes inthe investigated AML patient group.

This thesis focuses on the study of ion-solid interactions, particularly at ion energies of several tens of keV. In this regime, ion beams hold technological potential for high-resolution depth profiling as well as for increased precision in ion implantation, which is paramount for applications in semiconductor manufacturing or quantum computing. The understanding of the exact nature of energy dissipation processes active during ion penetration is crucial for technological advancement but simultaneously presents a fundamental physics problem worth investigating. A widely accepted picture describing keV ion-solid interactions is the one of electronic excitations in an electron gas. Nevertheless, the experimentally accessible observables, such as energy or charge transfer, show unexpectedly clear signs of an atomic signature in the individual interaction. The origin of these processes is currently under investigation both in dedicated experiments and using novel computational approaches.

The research employs ion transmission experiments through thin self-supporting single-crystalline membranes which allow for a confinement of interaction distances and thus processes. Ions experiencing close collisions with target atoms displays energy losses beyond those expected in the electron gas picture. Correlating these observations with the charge state distributions of the transmitted projectiles underscores the role of close collisions facilitating the formation of molecular orbitals. A quantitative analysis reveals this atomistic nature of the interaction being the dominant energy dissipation channel for slow, heavy ions.

The Time-of-Flight Medium-Energy Ion Scattering system (ToF-MEIS) at Uppsala University was used as a primary tool for the investigations. The present work further developed this instrumentation as well as established new ion-based analytical techniques in-situ. Control over the surface composition is mandatory to yield reliable empirical data in the investigations presented in this thesis. Elastic recoil detection was shown capable of quantitative analysis of light surface contaminants, both on bulk and transmission samples. Ion-induced surface sputtering and desorption were employed on self-supporting membranes shedding light on the underlying mechanism for the desorption process. Finally, the construction and commissioning of an advanced UHV preparation chamber opened up for in-situ synthesis and modification of materials, which in combination with ToF-MEIS enables precise compositional and structural analysis at a nanometre scale. 

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are not recommended for use against pneumonia in humans, but are commonly utilised against bovine respiratory disease. This study aimed to determine if the use of NSAIDs in the early phase of bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV)-infection limits pulmonary inflammation. Four to nine-week old calves were infected with BRSV by aerosol and were treated with either meloxicam intravenously on day (D)4 (n = 5, MEL), acetylsalicylat-DL-lysin intravenously on D4 and D5 (n = 5, ASA), or were left untreated as controls (n = 5, CTR). Clinical signs were monitored daily until necropsy on D7, BRSV-RNA was detected in nasal swabs and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) by RT-qPCR, inflammatory cells and proteins were identified in BAL by cytology and label-free quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomics, respectively, and oxylipids were quantified in BAL and plasma by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry with triple quadrupole mass detectors. The calves developed mild to moderate signs of respiratory disease and, with the exception of one MEL-treated and one ASA-treated calf, limited lung lesions. None of the treatments had a significant effect on virus replication, clinical signs or lung lesion extent. Relative to controls, both treatments initially induced a downregulation of proteins in BAL. Immunoglobulin (Ig)-related proteins, such as the Ig kappa and lambda locus and the joining chain of IgA and IgM, were downregulated in MEL-treated calves compared to controls. In addition, meloxicam induced an increased neutrophil influx in BAL in response to BRSV, possibly related to a reduction in plasma prostaglandin, and to a downregulation of The Liver X Receptor/ Retinoid X Receptor (LXR/RXR), the Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR)/RXR and the 24-Dehydrocholesterol Reductase (DHC24) signalling pathways in the lung. The risk of NSAIDs to increase neutrophil activity during stimulation with BRSV or other toll-like receptor 4 agonists needs to be investigated further. Since augmented neutrophil responses can be detrimental, the results of the present study do not support the use of NSAIDs to prevent the clinical expression of BRSV-infection.

This thesis evaluates the environmental and social impacts of two landmark hydropower projects in Laos: the World Bank-funded Nam Theun 2 and the Chinese-funded Nam Ou River Cascade. Framed within the critiques of modernization theory, the study investigates how development projects, driven by differing conditionalities - normative for the West and economic for China - affect sustainability and equity. Employing a comparative case study approach, the research examines land use, biodiversity, water management, stakeholder engagement, resettlement, livelihoods, and access to services. The findings reveal that both projects exhibit significant shortcomings in mitigating environmental and social trade-offs, albeit in different dimensions reflective of their funding models. Nam Theun 2 demonstrates ambitious but poorly implemented governance frameworks, while Nam Ou River Cascade highlights efficiency-driven approaches with limited safeguards. This analysis underscores the limitations of traditional and economic conditionalities in addressing the multidimensional impacts of large-scale infrastructure projects, contributing to broader discussions on sustainable development and the applicability of modernization theory in the Global South.

Background: Combined strength and aerobic training has been widely debated for its potential impact on strength gains. Previous research presents conflicting results regarding the interference effect, where aerobic training may hinder the outcomes of strength training.

Aim: The purpose of this literature review was to investigate the effect of combined training compared to strength training alone on strength gains in individuals with experience in strength training.

Method: A systematic review was conducted, including five randomized controlled trials identified via PubMed. The quality of the studies was assessed using the TESTEX scale, and the reliability was evaluated with a modified GRADE system.

Results: The findings suggest that combined training often results in reduced strength gains compared to strength training alone. The majority of studies demonstrate an interference effect, but the overall assessment reveals low reliability.

Conclusion: Combined training may impair strength gains in experienced resistance trainers; however, the uncertainty in results highlights the need for further research with higher methodological rigor.

This essay aims to contribute to the knowledge of Artemisia Gentileschi’s self-portraits by examining how they reflect the European view of women in the seventeenth century. Three of Gentileschi’s self-portraits are being analyzed using Erwin Panofsky’s three-step iconological method. The portraits are: Self-Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria (c. 1615-1617), Self-Portrait as a Lute player (c. 1615-1618) and Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting (c. 1638-39). The analysis rests on a feminist theoretical framework and focuses on how the paintings reproduce beauty standards and norms placed on women in seventeenth century Europe, more specifically Italy. Gentileschi presents herself as a saint, musician and allegory, all contemporary popular female personifications that are associated with strong female agency. The essay concludes that Gentileschi’s self-portraits follow prevalent beauty ideals and gender norms, but also indicate displeasure about these standards. She expresses discomfort with societal pressure while still conforming to the norms.

We perform a mixed-method frame semantics-based analysis on a dataset of more than 49,000 sentences collected from 5846 news articles that mention AI. The dataset covers the twelve-month period centred around the launch of OpenAI's chatbot ChatGPT and is collected from the most visited open-access English-language news publishers. Our findings indicate that during the six months succeeding the launch, media attention rose tenfold-from already historically high levels. During this period, discourse has become increasingly centred around experts and political leaders, and AI has become more closely associated with dangers and risks. A deeper review of the data also suggests a qualitative shift in the types of threat AI is thought to represent, as well as the anthropomorphic qualities ascribed to it.

Johannes och Thomasevangeliet är till sina strukturer sett två olika texter men deras innehåll pekar på vissa ställen åt motsatt håll. Utifrån Johannesevangeliets prolog och utvalda texter i Thomasevangeliet ställer denna uppsats texternas  beskrivningar av deras respektive gudsbilder mot varandra. Genom att undersöka budskapen i Johannesevangeliet och i Thomasevangeliet samt diskutera texternas relation till varandra utifrsån tillkomst, beroende av de synoptiska evangelier och deras mångfacetterade kulturella bakgrund. Likheterna i de båda texterna ligger i det dualistiska språket som bland annat används för att beskriva Gud genom relationen mellan ljus och mörker samt gott och ont. Utöver dualitet i språket finns även liknelser i det skapande ordet, att detta skulle finnas hos Gud och även vara en del av sonen. Hurivida det är en del av Gud eller inte är den största skillnaden mellan de två texterna, det och hur sonen förknippas med skaparen, om sonen är en egen entitet eller ej.

The study focuses on the Church of Sweden's marriage ordinances with a focus on the marriage image. The aim of this work is to offer a greater understanding of marriage and its change in a Swedish-historical context. And to analyze and compare the marriage orders in the handbooks from a gender perspective with a focus on male and female, power, superior and subordinate. The result that emerges from the study is that we see a picture of marriage that goes from being clearly divided between man and woman to being based entirely on the couple's common love for each other and in constant dialogue with God. Where also the clear above and lower order between man and woman is gradually removed.

The church's marriage ordinanc goes from division to fellowship in the marriage ordinances because in the last ordinanc the division between man and woman is completely gone. The conclusion we draw is that man and woman are equal to each other as servants of Christ, but as citizens in society, they are worth different because the social constructions make it have different values depending on whether you are a man or a woman. 

The aim of this study is to explore how subaltern portraits of motherhood can contribute to the theology of motherhood. The study explores which existential issues are brought to light by motherhood in the characters Ristin, Lise and Sandra in the Sami novel Aednan by the author Linnea Axelsson. Furthermore, it examines how an analysis based on the characters’ experience can contribute to theology of motherhood. The theoretical approach consists of a combined definition of life views, together with postcolonial understandings of the subaltern. I perform close readings of three selected chapters based on a hermeneutic of difference, which strives to seek the unconventional in the studied text and is incorporated into five questions, developed for studies on life views in poetic texts. The analysis highlights existential issues such as care and nonverbal communication. Ristin shows the ambivalent relationship between care and anxiousness. She needs to defend her children from external threats, which in addition to initiating care brings despair. In Lise’s motherhood, language and marginalization appears as important issues. Language deprivation isolates Lise from her surroundings as well as from her daughter. It ends as a difficult experience with feelings of shame. In this way, motherhood can bring awareness to the relationship to oneself and other people. Sandra depicts the subaltern’s difficulties of not being heard in the political fight for Sami rights. Aednan explores the subaltern’s potential for resistance through nonverbal communication. The traditional Sami garment and silence appear as helpful instruments to convey experience. In the final discussion I argue that motherhood does not necessarily indicate vulnerability as previous studies in theology of motherhood have shown. The subaltern experiences of motherhood might be challenging, but also involve resistance and meaning. Motherhood confronts Ristin, Lise and Sandra with new difficult situations. However, it is not a new reality that appears. Their experience as subaltern women already involves vulnerability. Motherhood provides new perspectives in the characters’ lives, with its possibilities and limitations; chance to resistance and care, and makes visible destructive relationships with oneself and others. A theology of motherhood, based on the subaltern, critically addresses the human life conditions – a useful approach to the discussion of life and theology.  

This paper analyses two ethical monographies, God’s Command by the Anglican ethicist, Professor John E. Hare, and Nature as Reason: A Thomistic Theory of the Natural Law by the Roman Catholic ethicist, Professor Jean Porter. Their works are analyzed based on three different theological polarities, mentioned by Professor James M. Gustafson in his work Protestant and Roman Catholic Ethics: Prospects for Rapprochement. The polarities are: being – becoming, nature – grace and determination – freedom. The purpose of the paper is to identify how the two ethicists deal with the terms of the polarities and how they differ from each other regarding those. The analysis shows that Porter in a larger scale than Hare manages to include both terms of each polarity in her ethical system. They show similarities in how each polarity functions in respective ethical system, however, since they differ in their definition of central terms the resemblances are vague. Hare and Porter show differences in how they view sources of moral motivation, if a person can understand and reflect on her nature as well as their understanding of the free will, differences that affect their usage of the polarities. Similarities are shown about the importance of a teleological understanding of human nature, the mix of inclinations in our nature and the human persons final goal and her potential: unity with God.

This study examines how France and Sweden assess the security situation in Afghanistan within the framework of the EU’s Common European Asylum System (CEAS). It explores the variation in Country of Origin Information (COI) produced by their respective migration agencies and how these contribute to diverging asylum recognition rates for Afghan nationals. Using a qualitative methodology, this research applies Structured, Focused Comparison (SFC) and Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA) to analyse six COI reports from 2022 and 2023, guided by the EU Qualification Directive. 

The study finds that while both countries adhere to EU guidelines, their distinct approaches to producing and interpreting COI reflect divergent practices in asylum decision-making. The differences further align with broader theoretical discussions on the politics of knowledge and enactment, as well as the nuances found in portraying and presenting facts about countries of origin and the bringing of these into being. The findings highlight that different approaches to producing and interpreting COI results in generalised or localised assessments of the security situation in Afghanistan, illustrating the role of COI in the observed variation of recognition rates. 

How does climate activists’ emotions, experiences and perceptions of soft repression, impact them and their activism and is there a gender difference between how female and male climate activists are impacted? This thesis seeks, through in-depth interviews with climate activists from the climate movements Rebellmammorna and Rebellpapporna, to understand how individual activists’ emotions relating to the experience and perception of soft repression impact them and their activism and if there are gender differences between how female and male activists’ emotions impact them. We know from previous research that activists’ emotions of the experienced repression can impact their continued activism in both mobilizing and demobilizing ways. These studies have however mainly investigated the impact of hard repression, not the impact of soft repression, which involves non-violent means to silence or eradicate oppositional ideas and movements. This thesis broadens the research field and fills a research gap, by investigating how emotions relating to the experienced soft repression impacts activists’ activism and by adding another type of research that has not been investigated in this research field before, namely if social gender norms create emotional differences between how female and male activists are impacted when exposed to soft repression. Findings suggests that soft repression mainly has a mobilizing impact on activists’ activism and that small, but weak gender differences exist, meaning that male and female activists emotions impact them in slightly different ways when exposed to soft repression. 

On the 26th of October 1905, the Swedish union with Norway was dissolved. The union was plagued by constant political division, conflict and infighting. However, towards the end of the union’s lifecycle the relationship between Sweden and Norway improved. This paper examines how and why the relationship between the countries changed during three time-periods close to the dissolution of the union: June 1895, June 1905 and June 1915. To analyze how the relationship changed, the paper has made use of the relational peace framework from the book “Relational peace practices” (2023). Shifts in behavior have been identified by using a discourse analysis to study language use in news articles from Dagens Nyheter. Historical institutionalism is then used to explain why the relationship changes. The paper finds that the relationship changed in a positive direction between June 1895, June 1905 and June 1915. During June 1895 the discourse in the news articles showed that the relationship between the actors was poor and that the peace should be understood as agonistic. However, the presence of increasingly positive political acts and discourse during June 1905 and June 1915 points towards the relationship improving over time. The paper finds that this relational improvement can be understood as a consequence of institutional changes introduced by the Swedish representation reform of 1866. This reform was the starting point of Swedish democratization and brought new norms, behaviors and rules that over time became more established within the relationship between Sweden and Norway — leading to the relationship improving.

Building on recent scholarship stating that authoritarian regimes, rather than democratic ones, are leading the way in gender equality reforms, this thesis examines the case of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Despite its authoritarian governance, the UAE has implemented significant legal reforms promoting women's rights in recent years. According to Bjarnegård and Zetterberg (2022), such efforts may be part of a broader phenomenon called autocratic genderwashing, where authoritarian governments take credit for advancements in gender equality to appear progressive and democratic, diverting attention from ongoing authoritarian practices and democratic shortcomings to enhance regime legitimacy. This thesis extends their framework by introducing the concept of economic genderwashing, proposing that the UAE’s genderwashing may be less about signaling democratic legitimacy, and more about projecting economic progressiveness to attract international investment and partnerships. Using qualitative content analysis of official documents from the UAE government, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the U.S. Department of State, this thesis analyzes how the UAE presents its gender reforms, and their reception by key international actors. The findings reveal that while the UAE links its gender reforms to certain democratic values, this narrative subtly shifts and prioritizes economic objectives. The findings also indicate that the UAE achieves greater recognition for being economically progressive – supporting the proposed hypothesis. Overall, this thesis contributes to the understanding of how authoritarian states instrumentalize gender reforms to shape international perceptions, offering insights into the intersections of autocratic states, gender equality, and international recognition.

As the escalation in trade rivalry between the U.S. and China is fragmenting the globalized order, it resuscitates questions about the spatial calculus of power. These invigorate debates on the limits and reaches of economic interdependence and draw closer attention to the domestic capacities of states. The rivalry’s geoeconomic context, however, defies traditional measures and theories of power and leaves questions about multipolarity and impending global order shifts unresolved. This thesis examines the role of state capacities in the formation of global orders. My empirical analysis offers novel multidimensional measures that correspond to the rivalry’s geoeconomic context. I construct a productivity-adjusted measure of state capacity and approximate structural power by trade intensity in value-added goods. A time-series hierarchical cluster analysis and hierarchical mixed-effects model add a dynamic dimension to the comparative research on great power rivalry. The results reveal state capacity’s significant impact on structural power and, in turn, on global order formations. They highlight that geoeconomic pressures on states under the U.S.-China rivalry are not uniform; instead, they co-evolve alongside strategic regional clusters that split the world order into bipolar camps. As low-capacity states seek risk aversion in strategic security alliances, a hierarchical global order emerges.

Sedan en grundlagsändring 2011 har antalet kommunala folkomröstningar ökat i Sverige, i flera fall har folkomröstningsresultatet också påverkat det kommunala beslutsfattandet. Kritiker av folkomröstningar hävdar att deltagardemokratiska inslag i den representativa demokratin leder till ökad politisk ojämlikhet då resursstarka, välutbildade individer är mer sannolika att delta politiskt än resurssvaga, lågutbildade individer. Fler arenor för politiskt deltagande förstärker därför den politiska ojämlikheten. Studien adresserar frågan om kommunala folkomröstningar är associerade med högre ojämlikhet i det politiska deltagandet än allmänna val genom att undersöka om sambandet mellan andelen högutbildade i valdistriktet och valdeltagandet är starkare i folkomröstningar än i de allmänna valen. Studien undersöker den politiska jämlikheten i 13 kommunala folkomröstningar som skett samtidigt som val till kommunfullmäktige eller val till Europaparlamentet mellan åren 2014 och 2024. Studiens resultat påvisar att det förekommer ett positivt samband mellan andelen högutbildade i valdistriktet och valdeltagandet i folkomröstningar, men sambandet är inte starkare än motsvarande samband i de samtida allmänna valen. Resultatet visar också att sambandet mellan andelen högutbildade och valdeltagandet är relativt stabilt oavsett om folkomröstningen skett samtidigt som ett val till kommunfullmäktige eller ett val till Europaparlamentet. Resultatet indikerar att folkomröstningar som genomförs samtidigt som allmänna val inte påvisar en högre grad av ojämlikhet i det politiska deltagandet än de allmänna valen. 

Over the past decade, a new form of governance has become increasingly popular in Sweden: collaborative partnerships between civil society organisations and public actors (idéburna offentliga partnerskap, or IOPs). IOP is a form of cooperation in which public and civil society actors work together on equal terms, pooling their unique resources and expertise to address complex societal challenges. This thesis examines the accountability structures within IOP through a case study of the IOP between the City of Gothenburg and five civil society organisations. Drawing on principal-agent theory and stewardship theory, as well as accountability theory, the study explores how responsibility is distributed between the parties, and what mechanisms exist to enforce accountability within the partnership. The results show that accountability is primarily maintained through informal mechanisms, such as transparency and mutual trust, rather than formal sanctions or control measures. The results also show that the civil society organisations are given extensive discretion within the partnership. While this flexibility encourages innovation and adaptability, the lack of formal accountability structures can lead to uncertainty about who is ultimately responsible in case of shortcomings. Nevertheless, the study concludes that the accountability structures within the studied partnership can be considered sufficient, primarily due to the high degree of transparency, trust and shared incentives between the parties.

Recent research has found a relationship between the triple interaction of Chinese loans, IMF finance and executive corruption, and a higher risk of leadership failure. This paper deepens the knowledge by bridging the gap between statistical relationships and causal explanations, exploring the question to what extent do the mechanisms of exposure of corruption or restriction of corruption explain leadership failure? In an extensive analysis, I test the explanatory power of two causal mechanisms, the Corruption Exposure Mechanism (CEM) and the Corruption Restriction Mechanism (CRM), by constructing a novel framework consisting of hypotheses on three levels within the domestic context. Employing a process-tracing approach, mixed methods are used to test how domestic elites, the political opposition, and the electorate respond to corruption, in the case of the leadership failure of Malawian President Joyce Banda in 2014. The case was selected based on the presence of Chinese debt, an active IMF program, and high levels of executive corruption, presenting a context where the mechanisms are expected to operate. The results show that corruption exposure was the main operating mechanism in the studied case, particularly visible at the electorate level, but also at the oppositional and elite levels. This paper makes a theoretical contribution by presenting a novel framework of testable hypotheses for examining the causal link between corruption and leadership failure. The empirical findings also contribute to the understanding of the domestic dynamics of international finance and highlight important policy implications regarding the impacts of revealing corruption.

In April 2024, security zones were implemented in Sweden, granting police the authority to conduct body searches and search vehicles without suspicion of a specific individual committing a crime. This study examines the debate surrounding this legislation, which reflects broader European trends of increasingly punitive and anti-immigrant crime policies, where the narrative of the “foreign criminal” has become central.  The proposal for security zones has ignited a heated debate in Sweden, reflecting tensions between public safety and civil liberties. Several government agencies, organizations, and referral bodies believe that the proposal will promote safety and security. There is also a scepticism towards the legislation due to the risk of racial profiling, discrimination, and a decreased trust toward authorities. The study aims to understand the arguments for and against the implementation of security zones and explore how the connection between migration and criminality is presented in a Swedish context, and how these arguments differ between actors. Using Argumentation Analysis and Textual Analysis this study explores the arguments. The theoretical concepts of Discrimination Theory and Procedural Justice Theory, together with previous research, will be used to connect how the debaters view the zones and the arguments presented.  The findings highlight a polarized debate. Proponents emphasize crime prevention and increased safety through expanded police powers, while opponents warn of risks such as stigmatization, discrimination, and eroding institutional trust. Explicit and implicit connections between migration and criminality emerge as central themes, revealing significant divides between governing parties and opposition actors regarding security policy and societal implications. 

This study examines the impact of national identity primes on political trust, political distrust, and political mistrust in the context of two democracies with high trust in government: Denmark and Sweden. Using a survey experiment, the respondents were reminded of their national identity through images of their respective national flag where the flag was more or less prominently displayed. The study builds on social identity theory, the common in-group identity model, and Billig's (1995) theory of banal nationalism to underpin the psychological mechanisms behind the effects of the treatments. The findings show that the image with a more subtle display of the national flag decreased distrust and mistrust in politicians in Sweden, while also increasing trust in institutions. Neither treatment had a statistically significant effect in Denmark. By focusing on the political dimension of trust, this thesis highlights the role of national identity in shaping attitudes towards politicians and political institutions in a stable democracy such as Sweden. 

The third wave of autocratisation is unfolding globally, with India regarded as a striking example. Since 2014, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by nationalist-populist Narendra Modi assumed office, India has reportedly experienced a significant democratic decline. This process has allegedly followed the typical pattern observed for countries in the third wave of autocratisation, with the media as a primary target. This thesis addresses a research gap by investigating whether - and if so, how - the reporting by Indian newspapers has actually changed since the BJP and Prime Minister Modi took office. Specifically, it examines the reporting of communal riots between Hindus and Muslims in Indian English language newspapers. A comparative case study was conducted to identify changes, analysing newspaper articles from three Indian English language newspapers using Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA).

Through this approach, changes in reporting were identified. The findings reveal a weakening of the media’s main democratic functions among the analysed newspapers. Post-2014 reporting was also less cautious and more transparent, with greater emphasis on intergroup tensions and identities, while maintaining neutrality in portrayal. These findings - particularly the weakening of the media’s democratic functions - suggest that India is undergoing an autocratisation process, with the media as a targeted institution. This aligns with previous reports from non-governmental organisations and scholars. By offering insights into India’s alleged autocratisation process and how the media is targeted within it, these findings could further strengthen the general theory of how the autocratisation process unfolds in the third wave.

Expectations on the EU for reaching an agreement on a new common asylum and migration policy was low to say the least. The decade long path from the start of the Migration crisis 2015 to the spring of 2024 was marked by fierce intergovernmental bargaining, stalemates, radical- right pressures, withdrawn proposals and a new launch with mixed emotions. Despite all of this, the EU was able to reach an agreement on the new Migration Pact, including the controversial solidarity mechanism. How well can integration theories explain this new case? To answer the question, this study develops hypotheses from the three “grand theories” most frequently applied and discussed in the European integration literature today: Liberal Intergovernmentalism, Neofunctionalism and Postfunctionalism. Through a qualitative analysis of interviews with key actors, as well as media and political discourse, this study offers fresh insights into the adoption of the Migration Pact in general and the new solidarity mechanism in particular. The results show that there are reasons for including all three theories when conducting a case study of this manner, as they highlight different aspects of the case. There is support for all three hypotheses, mainly Liberal Intergovernmentalism and Postfunctionalism. The solidarity mechanism was a product of asymmetrical interdependence and public identity pressure, harnessed by radical-right populist parties across Europe that in the end shaped member states’ preferences. However, one runs into problems when trying to explain and understand this complicated process without Neofunctionalism and the concept of functional spillover.

The gender capital gap explains that the opportunity for women entrepreneurs to access capital is limited compared to male counterparts. The reason is often connected to informal institutions, but the role of corruption remains underexplored. Emerging literature has focused on gendered forms of corruption as an obstacle for resources in the public sector, but failed to give equal attention to the private sector. Previous research linking corruption to entrepreneurship is primarily using firm-level, survey data, or missing a gendered-lens. This study contributes to these gaps by doing a qualitative case study of Colombia, as a way of exploring the intersection of corruption and women entrepreneurs' access to capital. In-depth interviews are conducted to understand their unique experiences and perceptions of corruption, including sexual corruption. The findings show that corruption plays a role in women entrepreneurs’ access to business funding, impacting factors such as opportunity, financial capital and human/organizational capital. To what extent the funding process is limited is conditioned on household/family context and meso/macro environment. Sexual corruption in the business sector is perceived to be institutionalized, that is, oppressive and indirectly initiated by those with entrusted power. As a result, women entrepreneurs use coping mechanisms prescribed by informal institutions that differ depending on being an opportunity-driven or necessity-driven entrepreneur. Due to the complexity of studying corruption, especially with sensitive and institutionalized dimensions of sex, power and gender norms, further research on the relationship between corruption and the gender capital gap is called upon. 

The thesis studies the representativity of classical-, modern-, and critical paradigms and perspectives in the curricular contents of course descriptions and the assigned course literature, of political science bachelor and master level studies in the Swedish context of higher education. The research objective was studied by combining discourse analytical practices in a mixed methods approach, through qualitative and quantitative assessments on the meaning and frequencies of semiotic framings. The descriptive overview of leanings in paradigms and perspectives found were further contextualised with student enrolment data, making visible of potential patterns in whom' is taught what in political science education in Sweden. The study reveals a dominance of modern perspectives in the curricular contents as well as a strong- moderate presence of classical perspectives. Critical perspectives were found to be marginalised with a polarized presence in the curricular contents. Much of the inclusion, of critical perspectives, were found to correlate with the electable standing of courses. The enrolment data highlighted patterns of gendered preferences, with female students being more inclined to enrol in courses of a stronger critical orientation than male students. The findings contribute with descriptive insights to the representation of perspectives in political science education and whom’ is taught what within the context of political science education in Sweden. By mapping out the biases of the curricular contents, studying these as possible expressions of institutional restraint creates space for constructive discussions on the politics of education. Emphasizing the importance of inclusive epistemic practices in political science education. 

Is the level of Public Service Motivation (PSM) and institutional trust higher in public sector employment compared to private sector employment? Alternatively, could PSM and institutional trust be more influenced by the nature of the tasks performed rather than the sector of employment? This study examines differences in PSM and institutional trust within a specific group of professionals performing the same tasks in both public and private sectors: Swedish upper secondary school teachers. Through a survey, I investigate differences in PSM and institutional trust between teachers in municipal and independent schools, while also exploring whether there is a relationship between PSM and institutional trust, aiming to uncover potential sectoral distinctions. 

The most significant findings reveal differences in both PSM and institutional trust between the two school types. Teachers in municipal schools exhibited both higher levels of PSM and stronger institutional trust compared to their counterparts in independent schools. However, a strong correlation between PSM and institutional trust was not identified. Instead, indicators suggest that the relationship may hold for teachers in independent schools but not for those in municipal schools. 

The aim of this thesis is to study similarities and differences in political leadership style in the exercise of party leadership. This is performed through the theoretical construction and empirical application of an analytical framework that determines leadership style in relation to three pivotal functions of party leadership: negotiator, ideologue, and coordinator. From this framework, leadership style is to be understood through two dimensions. Firstly, the leader’s approach to the functions in terms of degree of involvement and assessment of each function's value, determined as active or passive. Secondly, the party leaders' actual exercise of the different functions, depicted as dogmatic or pragmatic. The analytical framework is applied empirically on five individual cases of party leadership in two different parties during two different time periods. Namely, the party leadership in the Swedish Social democratic party (2011-2021), as well as the party leadership in the Swedish Liberal People's Party (1983-2007). Furthermore, the study also aims to clarify what gives rise to differences in leadership style in terms of surrounding context and personal characteristics. The study suggests significant differences in party leaders' leadership style both between the two parties but also between party leaders within the same party. These differences are expressed in their approach to, as well as in their exercise of, the different functions. Furthermore, the study empirically supports the interactionist approach in explaining differences in leadership style through differences in the interaction between context wherein the party leader operates, and the personal characteristics of the individual party leader. 

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have attracted wide attention due to their promising applications in biomedicine, chemical catalysis, and magnetic memory devices. In this work, the force is measured between a single SPION coated with chiral molecules and a ferromagnetic substrate by atomic force microscopy (AFM), with the substrate magnetized either toward or away from the approaching AFM tip. The force between the coated SPION and the magnetic substrate depends on the handedness of the molecules adsorbed on the SPION and on the direction of the magnetization of the substrate. By inserting nm-scale spacing layers between the coated SPION and the magnetic substrate it is shown that the SPION has a short-range magnetic monopole-like magnetic field. A theoretical framework for the nature of this field is provided.

För att kunna kommunicera och göra sig förstådd, är det viktigt att andraspråksinlärare utvecklar uttalet i målspråket, vilket de kan få möjlighet att göra i skolan. Syftet med studien är att undersöka vad SVA-lärare och andraspråkselever i gymnasiet har för inställning till uttalsundervisning och elevernas uttalsutveckling. Frågor om attityder till brytning lyfts också fram. Materialet för undersökningen utgörs av enskilda intervjuer med två lärare och en gruppintervju med fyra elever som läser SVA 1. Analysmetoden gjordes enligt stegen i en kvalitativ innehållsanalys och resultaten diskuteras i relation till tidigare forskning och tre teoretiska utgångspunkter: den kommunikativa språkförmågan, den kritiska inlärningsperioden, och attitydbegreppet. Resultaten från intervjuerna visar att lärarna inte genomför explicit uttalsundervisning för att de inte ser behovet om elevens uttal är förståeligt. Eleverna uttryckte en önskan om att utveckla ett bättre uttal, men att det kan ske genom naturliga metoder istället. Slutsatsen är att behovet av uttalsundervisning inte nödvändigtvis finns i SVA-ämnet i gymnasiet, där andra aspekter av språket får mer uppmärksamhet.