Hälso- och sjukvården behöver bli mer hållbar, proaktiv och personcentrerad. För att uppnå detta behöver digitalisering nyttjas, nya innovationer utvecklas och personers egna resurser tillvaratas. Det innebär även omställning på flera organisatoriska nivåer och utveckling inom varje profession för att möta olika klientgruppers behov. Forskning och riktlinjer visar på ett behov av att utveckla stöd för self-management i aktiviteter i vardagslivet för personer med stroke. Det övergripande syftet med denna avhandling var att utveckla kunskap om införande av internetbaserad intervention och mer specifikt att utvärdera en ny arbetsterapiintervention ”Strategier för att nå ett aktivt vardagsliv” [SEE] för personer med stroke. 

Avhandlingen består av fyra delstudier. Studie I utforskade hur personer med stroke och deras arbetsterapeuter (AT) upplevde interventionsprocessen i SEE och huruvida SEE hade potential att främja ett aktivt vardagsliv. Studien var en explorativ deskriptiv fallstudie där fyra personer med stroke och två AT deltog i en första prövning av prototypen under utvecklingsfasen av SEE. Data samlades in genom en kombination av metoder från interventionsstart samt löpande till interventionens avslut. Data analyserades med mönstermatchning. Resultatet indikerade att SEE var genomförbar och accepterbar avseende innehåll och leverans. SEE kunde stödja utveckling av självreflektion och strategianvändning, vilket inverkade positivt på engagemang i aktiviteter i vardagslivet och livstillfredsställelse för personer med stroke. Arbetsterapeuterna upplevde en omställning i sin yrkesroll när de började leverera arbetsterapi digitalt och anpassade sig till att stödja klienternas förändring på ett nytt sätt. Utbildningsprogrammet och interventionsguiden för SEE var ett stöd i omställningen. Studien visade på behovet av mindre justeringar av prototypen och gav stöd för fortsatt forskning om genomförbarheten av SEE. 

Studie II utvärderade genomförbarheten av SEE för personer med stroke. Studien var utformad som en genomförbarhetsstudie med en pre-test-post-test-design utan kontrollgrupp inbäddad i en mixad metod ansats. Data samlades in genom en kombination av metoder vid interventionsstart, efter fyra och 12 månader samt löpande under interventionstiden. Data samlades från 15 personer med stroke, fyra AT och tre chefer. Data analyserades med deskriptiv kvantitativ analys och kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultatet visade att SEE var genomförbar för personer med stroke och kan stärka deras self-management samt förbättra engagemang, balans och värde i aktiviteter i vardagslivet. Studien visade också att SEE var genomförbar när det gällde dosering och accepterbarhet samt värdet av SEE skattades högt. Brister i följsamhet framkom relaterat till saknade formulär, tidsavvikelser i modulleveranser och utebliven uppföljning. Arbetsterapeuternas erfarenheter visade att det var utmanande att lära sig SEE, men samtidigt att SEE möjliggjorde ett nytt sätt för dem att ge stöd samt främjade klienternas engagemang och ansvarstagande. Chefernas erfarenheter visade att SEE har potential att förbättra och utveckla utbudet av rehabiliteringstjänster. Justeringar behövs i studiedesignen, avseende rekryteringsstrategier, bedömningsinstrument och utvärderingsmetoder av följsamhet. Utbildningsprogrammet för AT bör utvecklas inför framtida forskning för att bättre stödja implementeringen av interventionen.

Studie III utforskade hur AT upplevde användningen av SEE, med fokus på att stödja klientens resurser för att hantera ett aktivt vardagsliv efter stroke. Denna studie hade en fokusgruppsdesign med periodiska upprepade diskussioner. Fyra AT deltog vid fyra tillfällen och data analyserades med fokusgruppsanalys. Resultatet visade att AT upplevde SEE som ett värdefullt komplement till befintlig rehabilitering. Implementeringen av SEE innebar en mångfacetterad transition som involverade kontext, interventionsprocess och leverans, vilket tillsammans förnyade arbetsterapin. SEE erbjöd AT ett nytt sätt att tillhandahålla personcentrerad och aktivitetsfokuserad arbetsterapi. 

Studie IV utforskade hur personer med stroke upplevde interventionsprocessen i SEE och huruvida deltagandet i SEE hade betydelse för deras upplevelse av vardagslivet. Studien designades som en kvalitativ semistrukturerad intervjustudie med nio personer med stroke. Intervjuerna genomfördes efter en månad respektive fyra till fem månader från interventionsstart för varje deltagare. Data analyserades med konstant komparativ analys. Resultaten visade att relevansen och beredskapen för SEE varierade bland deltagarna. Sju av nio deltagare upplevde att interventionsprocessen gav dem kraft att driva sin egen förändringsprocess i aktiviteter i vardagslivet för att främja hälsa. Två deltagare såg inget behov av att förändra sina aktiviteter och påbörjade därför ingen förändringsprocess. När SEE var relevant och genomfördes som förväntat, beskrev deltagarna det som en ögonöppnare för hur de själva kunde agera för att förbättra sin hälsa genom att omfördela sin tid och sitt engagemang i olika aktiviteter.

Den ökade kunskapen som denna avhandling bidrar med kan användas för att förstå och främja införande av internetbaserad intervention för self-management. Kunskapen kan även användas för att utveckla rehabilitering som tillvaratar internets fördelar för att stödja förändringsprocesser i personers ofta komplexa vardagsliv. Slutligen visar kunskapen hur SEE och dess forskningsdesign behöver utvecklas för fortsatt implementering och utvärdering. 

Det övergripande syftet med avhandlingen är att, inom ett praktiknära forskningsprojekt, utforska hur undervisning blir till i förskolans praktiker med utgångspunkt i framväxande lokala och situerade utvecklings- och forskningspraktiker. Genom att under närmare tre års tid arbeta i nära samverkan med förskollärare och barnskötare från tre olika förskolor, inom ett och samma förskoleområde, har frågan om undervisning i förskolan kunnat undersökas på en mängd olika sätt, med utgångspunkt i praktikernas frågor. Med inspiration från kritisk aktionsforskning har utvecklings- och forskningsprocesser kombinerats, med sikte på att producera kunskaper i och tillsammans med de förskolepraktiker som deltar. Teoretiska och metodologiska utgångspunkter hämtas även från posthumanistisk teoribildning, främst via Barad, Haraway och Stengers, samt tidigare genomförda studier från förskolefältet med liknande utgångspunkter.

Tillsammans med en mångfald av aktörer så som förskollärare, barnskötare, barn, andra forskare, dokumentationer, förskolemiljöer, litteratur, lera och tidigare forskning har undervisningens tillblivelse i en rad olika praktiker utforskats. Undervisning framträder i avhandlingen som ett halt och svårfångat begrepp för de förskollärare och barnskötare som deltar i utforskandet, eftersom det utmanar föreställningar och traditioner om vad förskolans utbildning ska vara och hur den ska göras.  Genom att låta det som först framstod som ett motstånd mot undervisning i förskolan bli en aktiv deltagare i utforskandet av undervisningen skapades möjligheter för flera berättelser att existera samtidigt. Rörelser, i olika riktningar och hastigheter, men även avbrott deltar i undervisningens tillblivelser. Undervisning blir då en praktik som sträcker sig bortom en specifik händelse och omfattar både det förberedande planeringsarbetet, de efterföljande reflektionerna och den fortsatta processen. Det elaborerande med metoder som gjorts inom ramen för avhandlingen bidrar med förslag på hur berättandepraktiker kan användas för att uppmärksamma framför allt det som benämns som spontan undervisning.

I avhandlingen framträder en mängd berättelser om/med/för/av undervisning i förskolans praktiker som tillsammans visar på vikten av att behålla komplexiteten i frågor som rör såväl syfte med som innehåll i förskolans utbildning och undervisning, för att inte begränsa barns möjligheter att lära sig, utvecklas och bli till.

The contamination of aquatic environments by uranium (U) is a global concern due to its chemical toxicity and radioactivity, both of which pose significant health risks. Although U occurs naturally in the earth’s crust and is commonly present at low concentrations in natural waters, elevated levels in the environment can result from both natural and human-induced sources. While previous research has focused primarily on U release from U mining and processing sites, less attention has been given to U behavior at non-U mining sites such as iron ore mines, where U may still be present as a trace element. Under certain conditions, U can become mobilized posing a contamination risk to recipient rivers and lakes downstream. This study investigated U sources and mobility at the LKAB iron ore mine in Svappavaara, Northern Sweden, where U concentrations exceeding the Swedish annual average guideline value of 0.17 µg/L have been detected in a river receiving excess process water from the mine site. 

The results show that the iron ore fed into the processing plant is not a significant contributor to U in the process water circulating in the mine’s water management system. This is due to the iron ore’s low U content and the occurrence of U in thorite, a mineral that remains stable under the alkaline pH conditions prevailing in the processing plant. However, the ore also contains gypsum and anhydrite which dissolve after being liberated during grinding releasing calcium (Ca) and sulphate (SO₄^2-). The presence of Ca promotes the formation of ternary calcium-uranyl-carbonate complexes, which increase U solubility and reduce its tendency to adsorb onto mineral surfaces. As a result, U mobility is enhanced within the water management system and toward the recipient river downstream. 

Mine water pumped from Leveäniemi open pit was identified as the primary source of U at the mine site. This U originates from both groundwater infiltration into the open pit and weathering of U-bearing minerals in the open pit walls. Minewall weathering stations revealed that among the different rock types present in the open pit, pegmatite had the highest U leaching rates per unit area. However, trachyandesite, the dominant rock type in both the hanging and footwall, exhibited lower U leaching rates but likely contributes more U overall due to its abundance. Groundwater entering the open pit through fractures and the drainage pipes was also identified as a key U source influencing U concentration in the mine water. However, tracing U back to specific rock sources is challenging due to evolving groundwater flow paths as mining progresses and limited access to rocks along these flow paths. As a result, elemental and isotopic tracers are needed to better understand U release from bedrock into circulating groundwater. To support this, further investigation into U release from pegmatite and trachyandesite rock under varying geochemical conditions was carried out. 

Acidic environments significantly enhanced U release, particularly from uraninite compared to more refractory minerals such as fergusonite, and thorite. Under neutral pH conditions, mineral dissolution was limited, and U was primarily mobilized through surface desorption and complexation with dissolved ligands. Carbonate was the most effective ligand in promoting U mobility under these conditions. Elemental correlations suggested that trace elements such as Pb, Th, Nb, and Y could serve as indicators of pegmatite-derived U, as they are commonly associated with the primary U-bearing minerals in pegmatite. In contrast, U leached from trachyandesite showed similar leaching behavior to elements typically found in silicate minerals such as Fe, Al, Si, Mg, and Mn. These elements are not effective tracers for trachyandesite-derived U because they are ubiquitous in silicate minerals, some of which may dissolve under the same geochemical conditions, making it difficult to attribute their presence to U-bearing phases. U isotope analyses added a valuable dimension to the study revealing differences in source behavior not captured by elemental concentrations alone. While δ²³⁸U overlapped between the rock types, ²³⁴U/²³⁸U activity ratios varied distinctly. The lack of overlap in ²³⁴U/²³⁸U activity ratios between pegmatite and trachyandesite leachates under neutral pH conditions both in NaHCO3 and groundwater solutions suggests that these ratios are more suitable than δ²³⁸U for distinguishing between U rock sources in groundwater at the mine site.

These findings highlight the importance of understanding both the sources and geochemical controls on U mobility in non-U mining environments. This knowledge is essential for implementing effective source-specific remediation strategies and improving water management practices to minimize U transport to downstream ecosystems. 

Due to the successful commercialization of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), there is a growing interest in developing new battery materials with improved properties. The uneven distribution of natural resources, the low abundance of battery materials in the Earth’s crust, and the growing geopolitical concerns should also be considered and addressed. In this context, alternative battery technologies, such as sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) and lithium metal batteries (LMBs), are getting attention by researchers, due to the low cost of readily available sodium resources and the very high capacity of a lithium metal anode, etc. Conventional electrolytes of any battery technology are today heavily based on fluorinated salts and volatile organic solvents, posing serious safety issues all the way from synthesis to application and recycling. Additionally, the increasing concerns of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) highlight the urgent demand to explore performant fluorine-free electrolytes, ideally also non-flammable.

In this study, novel fluorine-free ionic materials and electrolytes have been designed and their physical and electrochemical properties thoroughly investigated. In the first part (Paper I), fluorine-free “solvent-in-salt” (SIS) sodium electrolytes based on sodium bis(2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyl) phosphate (NaDEEP) salt and tris(2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyl) phosphate (TEOP) solvent are presented. The addition of TEOP increased the electrochemical oxidation stability of the SIS electrolytes and an unusual ionic conductivity behavior is observed – the ionic conductivities of the electrolytes increase with increasing salt concentration. In the second paper (Paper II), a series of new orthoborate-based ionic materials, containing the bis(glycolato)borate (BGB) anion and phosphonium/ammonium cations are prepared and compared with the popular bis(oxalato)borate (BOB) salts. Some of these ionic materials are room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs), while others are organic ionic plastic crystals (OIPCs). The tetrabutylphosphonium bis(glycolato)borate ([P₄₄₄₄][BGB]) OIPC displays much higher decomposition temperature than the structural analogous [P₄₄₄₄][BOB] IL, and multinuclear solid-state NMR spectroscopy indicated weaker cation-anion interactions in phosphonium-based salts than the ammonium-based ones.

Given the excellent moisture and thermal stabilities brought by the BGB anion, a family of BGB-based alkali and alkaline metal salts were synthesized and characterized (Paper III). The LiBGB-based electrolytes using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), triethyl phosphate (TEP) and trimethyl phosphate (TMP) have excellent moisture stability, optimal ionic conductivity, better aluminum (Al) passivation and long-term Li plating-stripping performance. Sequentially, the next study (Paper IV) is focused on investigating the effect of additives on the performance of these electrolytes, such as vinylene carbonate (VC), fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), etc. Finally, in the fifth paper (Paper V), two- and three-component eutectic electrolytes based on pyrrolidinium saccharinate [Pyrr][Sac], lithium saccharinate Li[Sac] and/or [P₄₄₄₄][BGB] salts were created. The physicochemical properties of these salts as well as the Li compatibility and cell performance are thoroughly investigated. Overall, these studies identified several new fluorine-free salts and electrolytes with beneficial properties that can potentially be used in next-generation batteries.

Wood has been a crucial material for construction throughout history. However, due to poor natural durability of wood, it is difficult to use outdoors without any additional treatment. Conventionally, wood has been fully or partially impregnated with preservatives. However, some substances are harmful to mankind and environment, hence, regulated strictly. Therefore, methods for achieving sustainable protection of wood have been required and one method that has been investigated for achieving this has been through chemical modification. 

This doctoral thesis aims to develop a new modification system for solid wood in use class 3. The objective was to develop a wood modification system based on maleic anhydride (MA) and sodium hypophosphite (SHP) that enables exterior use without leaching by weathering. To meet this requirement, the modification should involve formation of stable cross-linking, altering the interaction between moisture and wood, consequently enhancing dimensional stability and biological resistance. 

To test the possibility of using MA and SHP, Scots pine sapwood (Pinus sylvestris L.) was treated with various ratio of chemical reagents, curing temperatures and durations. The treated wood was subjected to repetitive wet-dry cycle to assess its dimensional stability and leachability of chemical reagents. The result indicated formation of a stable cross-linking between wood constituents. 

To further investigate the formation of cross-link, solid-state 13C cross-polarization magic-angle-spinning (CP-MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 31P MAS NMR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were employed. The findings indicated that the cross-linking was likely to involve phosphonate (C-P-O) bonds. These results provided a deeper fundamental understanding of the reaction mechanisms between wood, MA and SHP, providing further scope for improved treatment systems in the future.

The impact of the modification on wood-water interactions was analyzed using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LFNMR) to study water in the wood at a saturated state. Additionally, the hydrophilicity of cell walls was studied via infrared spectroscopy after deuteration using liquid D2O. The results indicated that the modification reduced the affinity of the wood cell wall to water without altering the number of accessible hydroxyl groups.  

Finally, the modified wood was evaluated for fungal decay resistance, mechanical strength test (bending), and thermal stability. The modification significantly reduced mass loss caused by wood-decaying fungi by limiting the moisture uptake in wood and altering the chemical structure of wood. On the other hand, the modification did not improve resistance to fungal growth on the wood surface, suggesting that nutrient accessibility on surface was not influenced by the modification. A bending test showed that while the modulus of elasticity (MOE) was not affected, modulus of rupture (MOR) decreased to half that of untreated wood. Thermal resistance was improved due to the presence of phosphonate, which can promote the formation of a protective char layer and radical moieties. 

This study demonstrated the potential of modifying wood with MA and SHP to enhance durability, dimensional stability, and fire resistance. The modification formed stable cross-link within the wood components, reducing water interaction and improving resistance to biological degradation. However, the reduction in MOR limits its suitability for load-bearing applications. Despite this, the results suggest that the modified wood could be a viable alternative for non-load bearing exterior applications.

Future research should focus on optimising the modification process by reducing temperature, duration, and solvent use while maintaining performance. Investigating catalysts for the reaction may help address these challenges. Additionally, long-term field testing under real environmental conditions is needed to evaluate the durability and stability of the modified wood. Environmental impact assessments and life cycle analysis will also be crucial for ensuring commercial feasibility and sustainability.

Electric power transmission systems transfer large amounts of power (typically hundreds of MW) over long distances (typically hundreds of kilometres) at high voltage (typically hundreds of kilovolts). The operational security of the transmission system has always been high top priority for the transmission system operator (TSO); because of this supply interruptions originating in the transmission grid are very rare. 

To maintain the high reliability of a transmission grid, TSOs deploy the N-1 operational security criterion. The predominant shortcoming of this criterion is that all contingency cases are treated as equal; no differential is made concerning probability and impact of individual contingency cases. 

Operational risk assessment complements the N-1 security assessment method, by incorporating the probability of contingency cases and their impact, the latter in terms of severity factors.  Important elements of operational risk assessment are lead time, instantaneous component outage model, contingency definition, contingency list and filtering, probability of contingency cases, and severity factor. The existing literature on operational risk assessment concentrates on contingency filtration and ranking. Only a limited amount of literature exists on definition of severity factors. 

The main purpose of this thesis is to identify and summarise different existing and required research trends on the fundamental elements of operational risk assessment.  The contributions of the thesis include:

•   Identifying the fundamental elements of operational risk assessment and highlighting potential barriers against the practical implementation of operational risk assessment into the transmission system. Currently, TSOs are not deploying operational risk assessment, among others due to the absence of proper guidance and because of the high reliability resulting from the (N-1) criterion. Potential barriers against implementation of operational risk assessment, that were identified in the work, include absence of acceptable operational risk criteria, lack of a common and standardized set of severity factors, lack of sufficient knowledge on interpretation of operational risk results, and improper guidance on when and which types of measures are required to reduce the operational risk. 
• Introducing multi-state component models, including hidden failures, to operational risk assessment. In the power grid, major blackouts occur due to contingency cases involving protection failures. Including protection and protection failures in operational risk assessment results in several practical and mathematical challenges. Practical challenges include obtaining transition rate data; mathematical challenges include computing the time-dependent state probability of a large Markov model. This thesis addresses these mathematical challenges and provides a way to resolve them.  
• Clarifying the role of severity factor in operational risk assessment and proposing different deterministic and stochastic severity factors. The definition of the severity factor has a big impact on the way in which the results from operational risk assessment should be interpreted. A common set of severity factors is important for the interpretation of operational risk results and for the exchange of information and experience.

An important finding from this work is that operational risk assessment provides additional dimensions to the operational security planning, next to deterministic security criteria. However, several research gaps remain that need to be filled before implementation of operational risk assessment to existing transmission systems is possible.