Advanced design, analysis, and implementation of pervasive and smart collaborative systems enabled with knowledge modelling and big data analytics

No abstract availablePublisher Statement: NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Advanced Engineering Informatics. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Advanced Engineering Informatics, [33, (2017)] DOI: 10.1016/j.aei.2017.01.001© 2017, Elsevier. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0

Sustainable business models

In Kenya, community-based enterprises built around non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are crucial for enhancing rural livelihoods and encouraging sustainable resource management. While NTFPs has received attention in research, little is known about the underlying business models that underpin these local NTFP enterprises and how they relate to sustainability. This study investigates the operations of two community-based NTFP groups in Kenya, focusing on tamarind and apiculture, their perceptions of their business models, and the sustainability implications of their enterprises. An explorative qualitative abductive approach inspired by participatory research was employed, involving local participants in both data collection and analysis. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with both groups, followed by joint co-analysis sessions. The sustainable business model (SBM) framework guided this exploration, aiding in the description of their business models and sustainability implications. Key success factors, challenges, opportunities, and ambitions were identified. The findings reveal that partnerships, training, and adaptability are important aspects of their enterprises. Numerous challenges emerged, including navigating unfair markets, limited access to financing, and issues surrounding corruption. Both groups articulated ambitious aspirations, such as expanding their operations, enhancing value-adding processes, and reaching international markets. They underscored the significance of product quality, customer trust, and social value, which includes income for households and gender inclusivity. These NTFPs demonstrate promising potential for sustainable development, particularly regarding social benefits, along with some environmental advantages, and they indicate connections to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study further illustrates how the SBM framework can be used to support reflection and learning in informal contexts. It presents recommendations for development initiatives and highlights issues that need to be addressed in policy frameworks. Kooperativa företag som bygger på icke-träbaserade skogsprodukter har blivit en viktig del av landsbygdsutvecklingen i Kenya. De bidrar inte bara till lokal försörjning utan också till en mer hållbar användning av naturresurser. Trots detta finns det begränsad kunskap om hur dessa företag faktiskt fungerar, särskilt när det gäller deras affärsmodeller och kopplingen till hållbar utveckling. Den här studien utforskar förståelsen för hur två lokala grupper i Kenya, en som arbetar med tamarind och en med biodling, organiserar sina verksamheter. Studien fokuserar både på hur grupperna själva uppfattar sina affärsmodeller och vilka hållbarhetsaspekter som blir synliga i deras arbete. En kvalitativ och utforskande ansats antogs, där lokala deltagare medverkade i både datainsamling och analys. Fokusgruppsdiskussioner och gemensamma analysmöten genomfördes med båda grupperna. Studien tog stöd i ett ramverk för hållbara affärsmodeller (SBM) för att strukturera analysen. Resultaten visar att faktorer som partnerskap, kompetensutveckling och anpassningsförmåga är centrala för gruppernas utveckling. Samtidigt framkom flera hinder, till exempel begränsad tillgång till kapital, korruption och svårigheter att konkurrera på rättvisa marknader. Trots detta uttrycker grupperna starka framtidsvisioner, såsom att nå internationella marknader och öka förädlingsgraden på sina produkter. Slutsatsen är att dessa lokala företag har stor potential att bidra till hållbar utveckling, framför allt socialt men även miljömässigt. Möjligtvis kan likande verksamheter, i liknande kontexter också bidra till hållbar utveckling. Studien visar också att SBM-ramverket kan fungera som ett stöd för reflektion och lärande i informella sammanhang likt detta. Utifrån resultaten ges rekommendationer för utvecklingsarbete och belyser problem som bör adresseras i policyutformning

Ebola virus infection inversely correlates with the overall expression levels of promyelocytic leukaemia (PML) protein in cultured cells

BACKGROUND: Ebola virus causes severe, often fatal hemorrhagic fever in humans. The mechanism of escape from cellular anti-viral mechanisms is not yet fully understood. The promyelocytic leukaemia (PML) associated nuclear body is part of the interferon inducible cellular defense system. Several RNA viruses have been found to interfere with the anti-viral function of the PML body. The possible interaction between Ebola virus and the PML bodies has not yet been explored. RESULTS: We found that two cell lines, Vero E6 and MCF7, support virus production at high and low levels respectively. The expression of viral proteins was visualized and quantified using high resolution immunofluorescence microscopy. Ebola encoded NP and VP35 accumulated in cytoplasmic inclusion bodies whereas VP40 was mainly membrane associated but it was also present diffusely in the cytoplasm as well as in the euchromatic areas of the nucleus. The anti-VP40 antibody also allowed the detection of extracellular virions. Interferon-alpha treatment decreased the production of all three viral proteins and delayed the development of cytopathic effects in both cell lines. Virus infection and interferon-alpha treatment induced high levels of PML protein expression in MCF7 but much less in Vero E6 cells. No disruption of PML bodies, a common phenomenon induced by a variety of different viruses, was observed. CONCLUSION: We have established a simple fixation and immunofluorescence staining procedure that allows specific co-detection and precise sub-cellular localization of the PML nuclear bodies and the Ebola virus encoded proteins NP, VP35 and VP40 in formaldehyde treated cells. Interferon-alpha treatment delays virus production in vitro. Intact PML bodies may play an anti-viral role in Ebola infected cells

Economic Underdevelopment and the Population Explosion: Implications for U.S. Immigration Policy

Background: Prediction of timing for the onset and peak of an influenza pandemic is of vital importance for preventive measures. In order to identify common spatiotemporal patterns and climate influences for pandemics in Sweden we have studied the propagation in space and time of A(H1N1)pdm09 (10,000 laboratory verified cases), the Asian Influenza 1957-1958 (275,000 cases of influenza-like illness (ILI), reported by local physicians) and the Russian Influenza 1889-1890 (32,600 ILI cases reported by physicians shortly after the end of the outbreak). Methods: All cases were geocoded and analysed in space and time. Animated video sequences, showing weekly incidence per municipality and its geographically weighted mean (GWM), were created to depict and compare the spread of the pandemics. Daily data from 1957-1958 on temperature and precipitation from 39 weather stations were collected and analysed with the case data to examine possible climatological effects on the influenza dissemination. Results: The epidemic period lasted 11 weeks for the Russian Influenza, 10 weeks for the Asian Influenza and 9 weeks for the A(H1N1)pdm09. The Russian Influenza arrived in Sweden during the winter and was immediately disseminated, while both the Asian Influenza and the A(H1N1)pdm09 arrived during the spring. They were seeded over the country during the summer, but did not peak until October-November. The weekly GWM of the incidence moved along a line from southwest to northeast for the Russian and Asian Influenza but northeast to southwest for the A(H1N1)pdm09. The local epidemic periods of the Asian Influenza were preceded by falling temperature in all but one of the locations analysed. Conclusions: The power of spatiotemporal analysis and modeling for pandemic spread was clearly demonstrated. The epidemic period lasted approximately 10 weeks for all pandemics. None of the pandemics had its epidemic period before late autumn. The epidemic period of the Asian Influenza was preceded by falling temperatures. Climate influences on pandemic spread seem important and should be further investigated

När nätet inte räcker till -En studie om fysiska försäljningskanalers betydelse i detaljhandelns digitalisering

Bakgrund Inledningsvis presenteras en redogörelse för detaljhandelns utveckling ur ett företagsperspektiv. Två av forskningsfältets framträdande teorier presenteras. Att fysisk detaljhandel är påväg att konkurreras ut av e-handelns framfart eller att den fysiska butiken behövs som komplement till en digital försäljningskanal för att addera en ytterligare dimension. Syfte Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka varför multikanala företag etablerar fysiska försäljningskanaler när trenden visar att näthandelns tillväxt och marknadsandelar förväntas öka. Vi vill även förstå hur företag använder sig och gynnas av sina nya fysiska försäljningskanaler. Syftet besvaras genom följande frågeställningar: 1. Hur använder företagen praktiskt sina digitala och fysiska försäljningskanaler? 2. Varför etablerar framgångsrika företag fysiska försäljningskanaler som komplement till digitala försäljningskanaler? Genomförande Studien baseras på en abduktiv fallstudie och en konstruktivistisk ontologi. Fallstudieföretagen är : Ellos Home, House of Dagmar, MeliMeli samt Wakakuu. Fallföretagen har studerats genom dokumentstudier, observationer samt semistrukturerade intervjuer. Uppsatsens teoretiska referensram består av: e-handelns framväxt, e-handelns för och nackdelar, den fysiska butikens fördelar, showrooming, servicelandskapet, multikanalförsäljning samt enhetligt varumärke. Empiri och analys presenteras genom fyra följande teman: E-handeln en okontrollerbar maskin?, E-handeln en endimensionell upplevelse?, När nätet inte räcker till och Multikanalförsäljning. Slutsats En fördjupad förståelse för hur de digitala och fysiska försäljningskanalerna praktiskt används av fallföretagen presenteras. Orsaker till varför fallföretagen väljer att adderar fysiska försäljningskanaler identifieras. Integrationen mellan försäljningskanalerna behöver systemstöd för att representera framtidens utformning av detaljhandeln. Studien har öppnat upp för vidare forskning. Ett behov av fler praktiska exempel och fallstudier i ämnet har identifierats

Pehr Stenbergs levernesbeskrivning

Pehr Stenbergs outgivna levernesbeskrivning, en av de mest omfattande självbiografierna på svenska från gustaviansk tid, beskriver huvudpersonens vistelse i Finland 1779–1789, dels som student vid Akademin i Åbo, dels som informator hos tongivande adelsfamiljer i Egentliga Finland och Satakunda. Den ännu outgivna levnadsbeskrivningen kommer att bidra till ny kunskap om såväl rikssvenska och finländska relationer som olika aspekter av livet i Åbo under 1780-talet

Human Hantavirus Infections, Sweden

The prevalent human hantavirus disease in Sweden is nephropathia epidemica, which is caused by Puumala virus and shed by infected bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus). To evaluate temporal and spatial patterns of this disease, we studied 2,468 reported cases from a highly disease-endemic region in northern Sweden. We found that, in particular, middle-aged men living in rural dwellings near coastal areas were overrepresented. The case-patients were most often infected in late autumn, when engaged in activities near or within manmade rodent refuges. Of 862 case-patients confident about the site of virus exposure, 50% were concentrated within 5% of the study area. The incidence of nephropathia epidemica was significantly correlated with bank vole numbers within monitored rodent populations in part of the region. Understanding this relationship may help forestall future human hantavirus outbreaks

Demographic Factors Associated with Hantavirus Infection in Bank Voles (Clethrionomys glareolus)

The bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) is the natural reservoir of Puumala virus (PUUV), a species in the genus Hantavirus. PUUV is the etiologic agent of nephropathia epidemica, a mild form of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. Factors that influence hantavirus transmission within host populations are not well understood. We evaluated a number of factors influencing on the association of increased PUUV infection in bank voles captured in a region in northern Sweden endemic for the virus. Logistic regression showed four factors that together correctly predicted 80% of the model outcome: age, body mass index, population phase during sampling (increase, peak, or decline/low), and gender. This analysis highlights the importance of population demography in the successful circulation of hantavirus. The chance of infection was greatest during the peak of the population cycle, implying that the likelihood of exposure to hantavirus increases with increasing population density