The rapid technological advancements of modern times have brought about the need for an innovative and contemporary approach to medical waste management procedures. This arises from the inadequacy of conventional manual techniques in ensuring the safety of employees and the environment from infections. The increasing amount of waste produced each day can exacerbate the situation if no action is ta

In Industry 4.0, manufacturing and critical systems require high levels of flexibility and resilience for dynamic outcomes. Industrial Control Systems (ICS), specifically Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, are commonly used for operation and control of Critical Infrastructure (CI). However, due to the lack of security controls, standards, and proactive security measures in t

Waste picking is a means of survival for thousands of individuals in Istanbul and together the city’s waste pickers make a substantial contribution to the recycling sector. However, they have struggled to gain recognition as recycling providers and have suffered from legislation criminalizing their source of livelihood. 2022 marks a shift where a new regulation was adopted, allowing waste pickers

The ’green’ energy transition has contributed to a polarized debate, where wind power is seen as part of the solution to achieve the climate target, while at the same time being problematized partly based on its aesthetic impact on the landscape. The purpose of this study is to investigate how the aesthetic dimensions of the Åby-Alebo wind farm can be understood based on Böhme’s theory of ’The Aes

The study critically examines the image of Copenhagen as a “sustainable”, “inclusive” and “livable” city, specifically in relation to the political initiative known as the “ghetto law” – a social mixing policy introduced in 2018 aimed at creating a “balanced” population, combating crime, and preventing the formation of “parallel societies”. The study operates under the premise that governance is s

This study examines how Aftonbladet, one of Sweden’s most widely read tabloid newspapers, constructs and portrays youth gang crime in Stockholm’s Järva area. The study explores the dominant discourses shaping public perception and policy responses through a qualitative text analysis of 24 articles published between 2019 and 2023. Additionally, the role of social media in reinforcing these narrativ

The Swedish government's new interest in existential health's impact on the population, alongside the uncertain professional role of the school social worker (SSW), motivates research on their discretion and potential within the subject of existential health. How Swedish schools contribute to students' existential health is under investigation and there are a couple of initiatives in d

The Swedish system of helping with addiction-related problems is based upon municipalities' and regional hospitals' lawful responsibilities towards its citizens and patients. This thesis looks at five of the southernmost regions of Skånes municipalities' webpages, that serve to inform and attract people who have issues with substance abuse and the side effects this has on their close o

E.M. Forster’s Maurice (1971) and Stephen Spender’s The Temple (1988) were written at the beginning of the 20th century and they both portray narratives of what life could look like for men who experienced attraction towards other men at the time. In this essay I examine how homosexuality is represented in Maurice and The Temple, and in what ways the portrayals of homosexuality in the two novels r

Optical microscopy is an indispensable tool in life sciences research, but conventional techniques require compromises between imaging parameters like speed, resolution, field of view and phototoxicity. To overcome these limitations, data-driven microscopes incorporate feedback loops between data acquisition and analysis. This review overviews how machine learning enables automated image analysis

The global increase in childhood overweight and obesity presents significant public health concerns due to its long-term health implications. Emerging evidence suggests that exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals, such as per- and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS), may be obesogenic and contribute to adiposity. This study aimed to investigate the association between prenatal PFAS exposure

Human and murine platelets (PLTs) variably express toll-like receptors (TLRs), which link the innate and adaptive immune responses during infectious inflammation and atherosclerotic vascular disease. In this paper, we show that the TLR9 transcript is specifically up-regulated during pro-PLT production and is distributed to a novel electron-dense tubular system-related compartment we have named the

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a bleeding disorder in which antibodies and/or T cells lead to enhanced peripheral platelet destruction and reduced bone marrow platelet production. Several reports have observed that ITP is associated with a peripheral deficiency of tolerance-inducing CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ T regulatory cells (Tregs). Using a murine model of ITP, we analyzed Tregs in the spleen and thymu

Approximately five decades ago, alloimmunization to human leukocyte antigens (HLA) and platelet refractoriness were recognized as potentially serious complications of platelet transfusions. The mechanisms that result in stimulating immunity against blood products are still incompletely understood but are related to both the composition of the donor product transfused and the immune status of the r

T-helper 1 polarization in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is well documented. However, the genetic contribution to this imbalance remains unclear. To address this question, we selected six candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms within cytokine or cytokine receptor genes for association testing among Caucasian adults. Patients from the United Kingdom Adult ITP Registry were

The treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in children is controversial, requiring individualized assessment of the patient and consideration of treatment options. If the platelet count is >10 000/μL and the patient is asymptomatic, a 'watch and wait' strategy is appropriate since most children with ITP will recover completely without pharmacotherapy. If therapy is indicated because of

Platelets are anucleate cells that are crucial mediators of haemostasis. Most immunologists probably don't think about platelets every day, and may even consider these cells to be 'nuisances' in certain in vitro studies. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that platelets have inflammatory functions and can influence both innate and adaptive immune responses. Here, we discuss the mechanisms

Although platelets are best known as primary mediators of hemostasis, this function intimately associates them with inflammatory processes, and it has been increasingly recognized that platelets play an active role in both innate and adaptive immunity. For example, platelet adhesive interactions with leukocytes and endothelial cells via P-selectin can lead to several pro-inflammatory events, inclu