Improved Road Design for Future Maintenance - Analysis of Road Barrier Repair Costs

The cost of a road construction over its service life is a function of the design, quality of construction, maintenance strategies and maintenance operations. Unfortunately, designers often neglect a very important aspect which is the possibility to perform future maintenance activities. The focus is mainly on other aspects such as investment costs, traffic safety, aesthetic appearance, regional development and environmental effects. This licentiate thesis is a part of a Ph.D. project entitled “Road Design for lower maintenance costs” that aims to examine how the life-cycle costs can be optimized by selection of appropriate geometrical designs for the roads and their components. The result is expected to give a basis for a new method used in the road planning and design process using life-cycle cost analysis with particular emphasis on road maintenance. The project started with a review of literature with the intention to study conditions causing increased needs for road maintenance, the efforts made by the road authorities to satisfy those needs and the improvement potential by consideration of maintenance aspects during planning and design. An investigation was carried out to identify the problems which obstruct due consideration of maintenance aspects during the road planning and design process. This investigation focused mainly on the road planning and design process at the Swedish Road Administration. However, the road planning and design process in Denmark, Finland and Norway were also roughly evaluated to gain a broader knowledge about the research subject. The investigation was carried out in two phases: data collection and data analysis. Data was collected by semi-structured interviews with expert actors involved in planning, design and maintenance and by a review of design-related documents. Data analyses were carried out using a method called “Change Analysis”. This investigation revealed a complex combination of problems which result in inadequate consideration of maintenance aspects. Several urgent needs for changes to eliminate these problems were identified. Another study was carried out to develop a model for calculation of the repair costs for damages of different road barrier types and to analyse how factors such as road type, speed limits, barrier types, barrier placement, type of road section, alignment and seasonal effects affect the barrier damages and the associated repair costs. This study was carried out using a method called the “Case Study Research Method”. Data was collected from 1087 barrier repairs in two regional offices of the Swedish Road Administration, the Central Region and the Western Region. A table was established for both regions containing the repair cost per vehicle kilometre for different combinations of barrier types, road types and speed limits. This table can be used by the designers in the calculation of the life-cycle costs for different road barrier types.

Landsbygdens lärjungar : En studie av den sociala rekryteringen vid realskolan i Rättvik 1930-1959

Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka den sociala bakgrunden hos elever som läste vid Realskolan i Rättvik mellan åren 1930 och 1959. Källmaterialet består av antagnings- och avgångsmatriklar från Realskolan i Rättvik där uppgifter om elevens kön, faderns yrke, eventuell examen samt om eleven valt att läsa vidare på gymnasium efter avslutad skolgång hämtats. Ovanstående insamlad data visar vilken socialgrupp och vilket kön eleverna hade som läste på skolan, vilka som avbröt sina studier i förtid samt vilka som läste vidare på gymnasium efter realexamen. Indelningen i socialgrupper har gjorts utifrån SCB’s socioekonomiska indelning, SEI. Resultatet visar att elevernas sociala bakgrund har varierat över tid och även varierat mellan könen. Resultatet visar även att denna variation stämmer överens med omvärldens förändringar, där samhälleliga och social förändringar avspeglar sig i resultatet. Resultatet visar att de största variationerna återfinns i de lägre socialgrupperna, socialgrupp 2 och 3, där hemmansägarnas och arbetarnas barn befinner sig.

Flickorna på Valhalla : En studie av social rekrytering rörande eleverna vid Elementarläroverket för flickor i Falun under perioden 1875-1948

Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka elevernas sociala bakgrund på Elementarläroverket för flickor i Falun under tidsperioden 1875-1948. De källor som ligger till grund för undersökningen består av noteringar om fädernas yrke hämtade ur matriklar från flickskolans arkiv. Uppsatsen ämnar också undersöka hur undervisningsplanen såg ut och vilka flickor som, när möjlighet fanns, tog sig vidare till gymnasium eller vilka som fick avsluta sin utbildning för att återvända hem. Kartläggningen över flickornas sociala bakgrunder undersöks över tid för att se om någon förändring skett i den sociala rekryteringen. Resultatet visar att eleverna vid flickskolan främst kom från samhällets mellersta skikt något som i undersökningen benämns som Socialgrupp 2. Undersökningen visade även att flickornas fäder i första hand utövade yrken inom yrkeskategorin tjänstemän på mellannivå. När det kommer till vilka flickor som läste vidare på gymnasium var det i första hand flickor ur samhällets högsta skikt, Socialgrupp 1 som tog sig vidare till högre utbildning. De elever som avbröt sina studier förändrades över tid och varierade också med social bakgrund.

En studie av GIH-studenters erfarenheter av friluftsliv och naturmiljöaktiviteter före utbildning

Syftet med denna studie var att med hjälp av en enkätmetod kartlägga blivande GIH-studenters erfarenhetsbakgrund avseende naturmiljöaktivitet, natursäkerhet och friluftsliv före utbildningen vid GIH. I denna enkätundersökning deltog 92 studenter som just påbörjat sina studier vid Gymnastik- och idrottshögskolan (GIH) i Stockholm höstterminen 2007. Av hela studentpopulationen som deltog i undersökningen var 48 % män och 52 % kvinnor. Av hela populationen som besvarat enkäten var 48 studenter från Lärarprogrammet, 26 studenter från Hälsopedagogprogrammet och 18 studenter från Tränarprogrammet. Enkäten introducerade följande definitioner: Naturmiljöaktivitet – aktivitet som bedrivs i naturen t.ex. orientering, simning, skridskor eller längdskidåkning och där aktiviteten är det väsentliga. Friluftsliv – Aktivitet och vistelse i naturmiljö i syfte att erhålla naturupplevelser samt stimulans och rekreation av psykisk och/eller fysisk art, med eller utan inslag av prestation och utan krav på tävlingsprestation. I skolan bedrivs friluftsliv alternativt naturmiljöaktivitet inom begreppet "Friluftsdag". I enkätens inledning fick deltagarna i undersökningen svara på frågor om ålder, kön, skolbakgrund samt utbildningsort. Resterande tio frågor avsåg att kartlägga erfarenheterna av naturmiljöaktivitet och friluftsliv på fritid och i skolan (grundskola och gymnasium). Frågorna omfattade huvudsakligen kvantifierade svar men även kortfattade beskrivningar förekom som klassificerades i efterhand. Deltagarna fick även gradera sina upplevda kunskaper och färdigheter inom exempelvis olika naturmiljöaktiviteter, miljökunskap (ekologi) samt övernattning och matlagning utomhus. I den avslutande frågan kartlades deltagarnas simkunnighet. En majoritet (ca 70 %) av både manliga och kvinnliga studenter som påbörjar sin utbildning vid GIH har endast en viss eller endast en liten erfarenhet av naturmiljöaktiviteter. Studenter från landsbygden utmärker sig inte när det gäller stor erfarenhet av naturmiljöaktivitet och friluftsliv, frekvensen är lägre hos dem som bott/studerat på landet jämfört med stadsbor. I jämförelsen rörande förekomsten av naturmiljöaktivitet i skolan och på fritiden ligger tonvikten på naturmiljöaktivitet. Endast en begränsad del av svaren representerar aktiviteter som är typiska för friluftsliv med fokus på vistelse och upplevelse av naturen. Friluftsdagarnas innehåll verkar ha divergerat så mycket att även s.k. arenaidrotter som t.ex. friidrott förekommer under friluftsdagarna. Det är viktigt att lärare i skolan och organisationer som verkar för friluftsliv är medvetna om distinktionen mellan naturmiljöaktivitet och friluftsliv. Om enbart naturmiljöaktiviteten fokuseras finns det risk för att naturupplevelsen förflackas och friluftslivet inte blir något annat än fysisk aktivitet i naturen.

Introduction

This special issue of Nordic Journal of English Studies is devoted to the research in Irish Studies being carried out in Scandinavia by a group of scholars based in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, as well as scholars associated—in one way or another—with Scandinavia. Denmark is represented by the University of Aalborg; Norway, by scholars affiliated to the Universities of Agder, the Artic University of Norway, Bergen, and Stavanger; and Sweden is represented by scholars from the universities of Dalarna, Göteborg, Stockholm, Södertörn and Umeå. Included also in this special issue is the work of two former students, who completed their Masters’ degree in Irish literature at DUCIS (Dalarna University Centre for Irish Studies), Sweden—from Norway and China respectively. The collection also contains an article by Dara Waldron, Limerick Institute of Technology, Ireland, whof recently presented his research at the Higher Seminar in Dalarna. Contributions by the Irish poet, Mary O’Donnell, who participated in the Nordic Irish Studies Network (NISN) conference, hosted by DUCIS in December 2012, are also included.

Nordic Journal of English Studies : Irish Studies in the Nordic Countries

This special issue of Nordic Journal of English Studies is devoted to the research in Irish Studies being carried out in Scandinavia by a group of scholars based in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, as well as scholars associated—in one way or another—with Scandinavia. Denmark is represented by the University of Aalborg; Norway, by scholars affiliated to the Universities of Agder, the Artic University of Norway, Bergen, and Stavanger; and Sweden is represented by scholars from the universities of Dalarna, Göteborg, Stockholm, Södertörn and Umeå. Included also in this special issue is the work of two former students, who completed their Masters’ degree in Irish literature at DUCIS (Dalarna University Centre for Irish Studies), Sweden—from Norway and China respectively. The collection also contains an article by Dara Waldron, Limerick Institute of Technology, Ireland, whof recently presented his research at the Higher Seminar in Dalarna. Contributions by the Irish poet, Mary O’Donnell, who participated in the Nordic Irish Studies Network (NISN) conference, hosted by DUCIS in December 2012, are also included.

Integration eller illusion : et deviance-perspektiv

Integration or illusion – a deviance perspective Denmark experienced one of its most successful periods of economic growth in 2004– 2008 with a tremendous reduction of unemployment, which in June 2008 was around. 1.5 percent, far below the expected level of structural unemployment. In the wake of this development the lack of utilization of migrants’ educations and skills became, once again, a core concern. The political, societal and academic debate followed to a great extent the traditional top-down approach to the problem and revolved around two axes: 1. How effective the labour market was/is to make use of migrants’ skills. 2. Whether there were patterns of over-education as expression of institutional and societal discrimination. The focus of the present study is, however, quite different: We examine the pattern of deviance in relation to labour market participation (not integration), and instead of searching for explanations for the lack of integration, we attempt to identify and explain the deviance pattern as a product of institutionally inherent possibilities and barriers on the one hand and articulating immigrants as rational actors (not victims) on the other. We argue that deviance is not only a more fruitful theoretical and analytical framework than integration and discrimination. Taking departure in empirical evidence on immigrants’ preferences and behaviour as bounded rational actors, and how they actually articulate their everyday life practical experiences, including adjustment of what they want and what they can, the deviance perspective, we believe, also reduces the theoretical and normative biases, that characterises the discrimination and integration framework, and provide more reliable explanations. 

Pricing and competition in the Swedish retail market for electricity

Sweden, together with Norway, Finland and Denmark, have created a multi-national electricity market called NordPool. In this market, producers and retailers of electricity can buy and sell electricity, and the retailers then offers this electricity to end consumers such as households and industries. Previous studies have shown that pricing at the NordPool market is functioning quite well, but no other study has to my knowledge studied if pricing in the retail market to consumers in Sweden is well functioning. If the market is well functioning, with competition and low transaction costs when changing electricity retailer, we would expect that a homogeneous good such as electricity would be sold at the approximately same price, and that price changes would be highly correlated, in this market. Thus, the aim of this study is to test whether the price of Vattenfall, the largest energy firm in the Swedish market, is highly correlated to the price of other firms in the Swedish retail market for electricity. Descriptive statistics indicate that the price offered by Vattenfall is quite similar to the price of other firms in the market. In addition, regression analysis show that the correlation between the price of Vattenfall and other firms is as high as 0.98.

Märchen im DaF-Unterricht : Die didaktische Umsetzung von Märchen in der Praxis

Die vorliegende Magisterarbeit ist die direkte Fortsetzung der Studie Die didaktische Umsetzung von Märchen – eine Literaturstudie. Hierbei handelt es sich in beiden Fällen an im Rahmen des Ämneslärarprogrammes an Högskolan Dalarna verfasste Examensarbeiten. Diese hier präsentierte Studie untersucht inwieweit die innerhalb der Forschung gepriesenen Märchentexte tatsächlich von Lehrkräften an den schwedischen Schulen und im Bereich des DaFUnterrichtes didaktisch umgesetzt werden. Mit Hilfe einer Unterrichtseinheit mit dem Thema „Märchen“ auf dem Gymnasium sowie einer unter Lehrkräften durchgeführten Umfrage betreffend deren Verwendung von Märchen im DaF-Unterricht konnte konstatiert werden, dass die im Literaturkanon stiefmütterlich behandelten Märchen mit Hilfe der meisten der befragten Pädagogen einen Weg in die Klassenzimmer gefunden haben. Die am Unterricht teilgenommenen Lernenden konnten gleichzeitig bestätigen, dass eine solche didaktische Umsetzung nicht nur Freude bereiten, sondern ebenfalls die Lernbereitschaft steigern und damit auch das Wissen erweitern kann.

A computational comparison of different algorithms for very large p-median problems

In this paper, we propose a new method for solving large scale p-median problem instances based on real data. We compare different approaches in terms of runtime, memory footprint and quality of solutions obtained. In order to test the different methods on real data, we introduce a new benchmark for the p-median problem based on real Swedish data. Because of the size of the problem addressed, up to 1938 candidate nodes, a number of algorithms, both exact and heuristic, are considered. We also propose an improved hybrid version of a genetic algorithm called impGA. Experiments show that impGA behaves as well as other methods for the standard set of medium-size problems taken from Beasley’s benchmark, but produces comparatively good results in terms of quality, runtime and memory footprint on our specific benchmark based on real Swedish data.

Elevers läsvanor : En kvalitativ studie av fyra fordonselevers läsvanor

The following study was conducted at an upper secondary school in Sweden and attempts to explore the question of what influences male pupils’ reading habits. Many quantitative international studies, including PISA, PIRLS and IEA Reading Literacy, have sought to answer this question, but only partially succeeded due to the limitations of their methods. Therefore, this study seeks to explore this question in more depth using qualitative methods, including interviews and classroom observations, but also minor tests. Two facts which the previously mentioned international studies have found is that boys and particularly immigrant boys tend to have worse reading results than their counterparts. It is therefore the aim of this study to study four male students in upper secondary school; of which two are native Swedes and the other two are unaccompanied refugee children; one from Afghanistan and the other from Morocco. The findings of this study are as follows. Firstly, necessity was found to be the single most important factor for the reading habits of these four pupils; especially the two refugees. Both refugees learnt to read under harsh circumstances in madrassas in their respective home countries. Moreover, the Moroccan pupil learnt to speak and read Spanish fluently during his seven years as a homeless child. Furthermore, in the absence of necessity, interest was found to be decisive in determining the pupils’ reading habits. In addition to this, the study theorizes that an interest in reading generally arises before the ability to read and not vice versa. However, teachers can in fact affect their pupils’ reading habits even in upper secondary school.

Chloroquine is grossly under dosed in young children with malaria : implications for drug resistance

Background: Plasmodium falciparum malaria is treated with 25 mg/kg of chloroquine (CQ) irrespective of age. Theoretically, CQ should be dosed according to body surface area (BSA). The effect of dosing CQ according to BSA has not been determined but doubling the dose per kg doubled the efficacy of CQ in children aged <15 years infected with P. falciparum carrying CQ resistance causing genes typical for Africa. The study aim was to determine the effect of age on CQ concentrations. Methods and Findings: Day 7 whole blood CQ concentrations were determined in 150 and 302 children treated with 25 and 50 mg/kg, respectively, in previously conducted clinical trials. CQ concentrations normalised for the dose taken in mg/kg of CQ decreased with decreasing age (p<0.001). CQ concentrations normalised for dose taken in mg/m(2) were unaffected by age. The median CQ concentration in children aged <2 years taking 50 mg/kg and in children aged 10-14 years taking 25 mg/kg were 825 (95% confidence interval [CI] 662-988) and 758 (95% CI 640-876) nmol/l, respectively (p = 0.67). The median CQ concentration in children aged 10-14 taking 50 mg/kg and children aged 0-2 taking 25 mg/kg were 1521 and 549 nmol/l. Adverse events were not age/concentration dependent. Conclusions: CQ is under-dosed in children and should ideally be dosed according to BSA. Children aged <2 years need approximately double the dose per kg to attain CQ concentrations found in children aged 10-14 years. Clinical trials assessing the efficacy of CQ in Africa are typically performed in children aged <5 years. Thus the efficacy of CQ is typically assessed in children in whom CQ is under dosed. Approximately 3 fold higher drug concentrations can probably be safely given to the youngest children. As CQ resistance is concentration dependent an alternative dosing of CQ may overcome resistance in Africa.

A tool for standardized collector performance calculations including PVT

A tool for standardized calculation of solar collector performance has been developed in cooperation between SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden, DTU Denmark and SERC Dalarna University. The tool is designed to calculate the annual performance of solar collectors at representative locations in Europe. The collector parameters used as input in the tool are compiled from tests according to EN12975, without any intermediate conversions. The main target group for this tool is test institutes and certification bodies that are intended to use it for conversion of collector model parameters (derived from performance tests) into a more user friendly quantity: the annual energy output. The energy output presented in the tool is expressed as kWh per collector module. A simplified treatment of performance for PVT collectors is added based on the assumption that the thermal part of the PVT collector can be tested and modeled as a thermal collector, when the PV electric part is active with an MPP tracker in operation. The thermal collector parameters from this operation mode are used for the PVT calculations. © 2012 The Authors.