Perceived Safety in Pedestrian and Bicycle Tunnels. A Quantitative Study of Perceived safety in the Urban Context of Gothenburg, Sweden

This thesis explores how perceived safety is shaped in relation to pedestrian and bicycle tunnels in Gothenburg, with a focus on gender, place, and the urban environment. The study is based on a survey conducted both digitally and on site in tunnel-dense and socially vulnerable areas. The analysis includes cross-tabulations and regression models. The results show clear differences in perceived safety between gender groups and city districts. Women report lower levels of safety and higher tunnel avoidance. The regression analysis confirms that gender, age, district, and survey method all have a significant effect on perceived safety. The findings are discussed in relation to previous research and theories on urban safety, social context, and the design of public space. While the study has some limitations, it contributes to a better understanding of how safety is experienced in specific urban settings and may offer support for future urban plannin

Variational multiscale approximation of the one-dimensional forced Burgers equation: the role of orthogonal subgrid scales in turbulence modeling

This is the accepted version of the following article: [Bayona C, Baiges J, Codina R. Variational multi-scale approximation of the one-dimensional forced Burgers equation: the role of orthogonal subgrid scales in turbulence modeling. Int J Numer Meth Fluids. 2018;86:313–328. https://doi.org/10.1002/fld.4420], which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/fld.4420/fullA numerical approximation for the one-dimensional Burgers equation is proposed by means of the orthogonal subgrid scales–variational multiscale (OSGS-VMS) method. We evaluate the role of the variational subscales in describing the Burgers “turbulence” phenomena. Particularly, we seek to clarify the interaction between the subscales and the resolved scales when the former are defined to be orthogonal to the finite-dimensional space. Direct numerical simulation is used to evaluate the resulting OSGS-VMS energy spectra. The comparison against a large eddy simulation model is presented for numerical discretizations in which the grid is not capable of solving the small scales. An accurate approximation to the phenomena of turbulence is obtained with the addition of the purely dissipative numerical terms given by the OSGS-VMS method without any modification of the continuous problem.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Contrasting Surface Behavior of Rh (111) and Pt (111) Electrodes

Low energy electron diffraction and voltammetric measurements of the Rh(lll) electrode were conducted and compared with the corresponding surface and electrochemical characteristics of Pt (111). Rhodium is unstable upon exposure to water vapor or liquid water, but retains its well-defined character after immersion to aqueous media. This is reflected in the voltammetric behavior of the clean surface, as well as the manner in which carbon monoxide and iodine are adsorbed from solution. That is, a monolayer of an oxygen-containing species, assembled into (2X2) surface structure, can either be reduced by the voltammetric treatment or replaced by adsorbing solution components without causing system disorder. The voltammetry of the Rh (111) electrode, while exhibiting the main features of several metallic single crystal surfaces, differs significantly from that of platinum electrodes normalized to the same 2D geometry. From the voltam- me\u27ric behavior, it is concluded that adsorption of high energy hydrogen is not taking place on Rh (111). Equally important, the packing density and the surface structure of the Rh(lll) — CO differs from its Pt(lll) — CO analog. While iodine chemisorption from the gas phase leads to the development of several surface structures known from the corresponding platinum work, preferential formation of the_Pt (111) (V3 X V3)R30°—I structure against the Pt(lll)(V7X V7)R19.1°—I was demonstrated. Both electronic and structural factors contribute to the contrasting surface behavior brought to focus in this work

The neutral real interest rate: An updated view of r*

The neutral real rate of interest (r*) is a key variable for assessing the tightness of monetary policy. The neutral real interest rate has by all accounts fallen substantially over the past three decades, amid slowing productivity growth, an ageing population, increased inequality and increased demand for safe and liquid assets along with lower investment demand. Updated model estimates and long-term market rates support Norges Bank’s assessment that the neutral real money market rate lays between -0.5 and 0.5 percent. Going forward, a further rise in life expectancy might suggest a continued very low r*, while increased public investment in defence and the climate transition, as well as the phasing out of asset purchase programmes by the large central banks may pull up on r*.publishedVersio

Den fysiska miljöns påverkan på upplevd trygghet. En studie om kvinnors upplevda trygghet på spårvagnshållplatsen Wieselgrensplatsen, Göteborg.

Upplevd otrygghet kan påverka människors livskvalitet genom att orsaka exkludering och utanförskap, samt leda till att människor undviker vissa typer av platser. Tidigare studier visar att kvinnor känner större upplevd otrygghet i den offentliga miljön än män. För att uppnå social hållbarhet och ett jämställt samhälle är det därmed viktigt att ta den upplevda tryggheten i beaktning vid fysisk planering. Denna studie har syftat till att undersöka kvinnors upplevda trygghet och vilka samband det finns mellan den upplevda tryggheten och den fysiska utformningen. Studien har även undersökt vilka fysiska åtgärder som skulle kunna göras för att höja den upplevda tryggheten på platsen. Studien är en fallstudie med spårvagnshållplatsen Wieselgrensplatsen, Göteborg som fall. Data har samlats in genom en intervjustudie, med en kombination av en digital enkät och djupintervjuer. Studien har utgått från en rad fysiska faktorer som har lyfts fram av tidigare studier som påverkar den upplevda tryggheten. Resultatet visar att den fysiska utformningen på hållplatsen Wieselgrensplatsen har främst en negativ påverkan på kvinnors upplevda trygghet. Studien har identifierat sju faktorer som påverkar kvinnors upplevda trygghet: platsens utformning, gångtunnlarna, vegetation, belysning, estetik, människor och tiden på dygnet. I och med att hållplatsen ligger nedsänkt i förhållande till resterande vägar, har platsens utformning med dess tunnlar en avgörande roll och bidrar till en känsla av instängdhet och dålig överblickbarhet. Belysningen anses som undermålig och är en bidragande faktor till upplevd otrygghet. Estetiken på platsen lyfts fram som en positiv aspekt för den upplevda tryggheten. Även antalet människor på platsen och tiden på dygnet har visat sig vara viktiga faktorer. Utifrån resultatet har en rad åtgärder föreslagits. Mindre omfattande åtgärder är bättre belysning, mer estetiska inslag och bättre skötsel av platsen. Mer omfattande åtgärder bedöms vara att höja hållplatsen till övrigt markplan, ta bort tunnlarna och öka rörelsen på platsen.Perceived safety can affect people's quality of life by causing exclusion and alienation, as well as leading people to avoid certain types of places. Previous studies show that women feel a lower perceived safety in the public environment than men. In order to achieve social sustainability and an equal society, it is therefore important to take the perceived safety into account in physical planning. This study aimed to investigate women's perceived safety and what connections there are between the perceived safety and the physical design. The study has also investigated which physical measures could be made to increase the perceived safety at the site. The study is a case study with the tram stop Wieselgrensplatsen in Gothenburg as the case. The data was collected through an interview study, made in combination with a digital survey and in-depth interviews. The study was based on a series of physical factors that have been highlighted by previous studies as factors that influence perceived safety. The results show that the physical design of Wieselgrensplatsen mainly has a negative impact on women's perceived safety. The study has identified seven factors that influence women's perceived safety: lighting, the pedestrian tunnels, the design of the site, vegetation, aesthetics, people and the time of day. As the stop is on another ground level, the design of the site with its tunnels has a decisive role in the perceived safety. The results show that women experience a feeling of confinement and that visibility in the place is poor. The aesthetics of the place, such as the art on the walls, are highlighted as a positive aspect for the perceived safety. The number of people in the place and the time of day have been shown to be important factors as well. Based on the results, a number of measures have been proposed. Less extensive measures such as better lighting, more aesthetic features and better maintenance of the site. More extensive measures such as raising the stop to the rest of the ground level, removing the tunnels and increased movement on the site

Integrin-mediated adhesion promotes centrosome separation in early mitosis

Integrin-mediated adhesion to the extracellular matrix is a key regulator of the cell cycle, as demonstrated for the passage of the G1/S checkpoint and the completion of cytokinetic abscission. Here, integrin-dependent regulation of the cell cycle in G2 and early M phases was investigated. The progression through the G2 and M phases was monitored by live-cell imaging and immunofluorescence staining in adherent and non-adherent fibroblast cells. Non-adherent cells, as well as adherent cells lacking FAK activity due to suppressed expression or pharmacological inhibition, exhibited a prolonged G2 phase and severely defect centrosome separation, resulting in delayed progress through the early mitotic stages. The activation of the critical mitotic regulator PLK1 and its indirect target Eg5, a kinesin-family motor protein driving the centrosome separation, were reduced in the cells lacking FAK activity. Furthermore, the absence of integrin adhesion or FAK activity destabilized the structural integrity of centrosomes and often caused detachment of pericentriolar material from the centrioles. These data identify a novel adhesion-dependent mechanism by which integrins via FAK and PLK1 contribute to the regulation of the cell cycle in the G2 and early M phases, and to the maintenance of genome integrity

Integrin-mediated adhesion promotes centrosome separation in early mitosis

Integrin-mediated adhesion to the extracellular matrix is a key regulator of the cell cycle, as demonstrated for the passage of the G1/S checkpoint and the completion of cytokinetic abscission. Here, integrin-dependent regulation of the cell cycle in G2 and early M phases was investigated. The progression through the G2 and M phases was monitored by live-cell imaging and immunofluorescence staining in adherent and non-adherent fibroblast cells. Non-adherent cells, as well as adherent cells lacking FAK activity due to suppressed expression or pharmacological inhibition, exhibited a prolonged G2 phase and severely defect centrosome separation, resulting in delayed progress through the early mitotic stages. The activation of the critical mitotic regulator PLK1 and its indirect target Eg5, a kinesin-family motor protein driving the centrosome separation, were reduced in the cells lacking FAK activity. Furthermore, the absence of integrin adhesion or FAK activity destabilized the structural integrity of centrosomes and often caused detachment of pericentriolar material from the centrioles. These data identify a novel adhesion-dependent mechanism by which integrins via FAK and PLK1 contribute to the regulation of the cell cycle in the G2 and early M phases, and to the maintenance of genome integrity