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Studies about hot spots of crimes have found that crimes are clustered; few places have many crimes. There is a consensus among criminologists that opportunities for crimes are important when explaining hot spots, at some places, there are more opportunities than at other places. The same applies for hot spots of robberies. Most studies done on the subject are quantitative, relatively little is done using a qualitative approach. Furthermore, little research is done in a Swedish or Scandinavian context. To fill these research gaps this study use participant observations to research five hot spots of robberies in Malmö. The research will try to answer which characteristics are important to explain why the places are hot spots and what the similarities and differences there between the places are. This will be analyzed using the Routine Activity Theory and the Crime Pattern Theory. The findings suggest that place-specific things are important to explain why the places are hot spots, but when using the theories several places are similar.

The current study examines firearms’ impact on the relationship between illegal drug markets and homicide. At the county-level, Iowa and Virginia are analyzed using crime data from the National Incident Based Reporting System. More specifically, gun availability is tested as a mediator for county drug crime rates and homicide counts. Variable selection and prediction is based on routine activity and social disorganization theories. I argue that social disorganization allows the context for which criminal opportunity presents itself through routine activities. I posit gun availability mediates a positive relationship between illegal drug markets and homicide, with differences between urban and rural communities

Loneliness is a critical factor that can significantly affect an individual's health and well-being, especially for older adults. Since they are more vulnerable to suffering life transitions, older people are more likely to experience loneliness than people of younger ages. The fast break out and spread of COVID-19 exacerbated the difficulty of their social connections and intensified their feelings of loneliness. Consequently, effective interventions for the aged, particularly effective ones suited to special occasions, are of vital relevance. Consequently, effective interventions for the aged, particularly effective ones suited to special occasions, are of vital relevance. As one of the widely mentioned and applied gerontology theories, the activity theory has been well-studied previously to elucidate the effectiveness of leisure activity participation in reducing lonely feelings. It is worth noting that no one solution works for everyone. This thesis examines the alleviating roles of four types of social activities on loneliness in older Americans considering individual differences, including marital, job, and physical health background. Sample data is from the 2020 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) survey. This thesis collected respondents over 50 years old and included a sample of 4,506. According to previous studies, control variables include age, gender, race and ethnicity, years of education, and health components (self-rated health and memory, COVID infection, and depressive symptoms). The thesis divides social activities into highly productive-active, moderately productive-active, moderately productive-sedentary and consumptive activity. Through three-group regression analysis, this thesis concludes that: (i) highly productive-active activity was the most practical way to reduce loneliness for vulnerable groups; (ii) moderately productive-active activity had the best utility on the elderly who already maintained good social relationships and health status; (iii) moderately productive-sedentary was the only activity type not useful for all groups. (iv) consumptive activity presents a protective tendency towards older people disadvantaged in work but not towards married and partnered people. Meanwhile, the thesis also proposes other classification methods involving activities' cultural and symbolic meanings. The thesis states that activities with spiritual power could better alleviate the loneliness of vulnerable groups, and the symbolic meaning of daily life activity (routine activity) could protect the elderly from isolated feelings caused by being forced out of society to some extent. The repetitive life patterns keep the elderly from inordinate life and psychological gaps. The contribution of the thesis consists of two aspects. First, the thesis maps leisure activities into a three-dimensional system, divided by practical activity attributes for loneliness. From the process of grouping and categorizing, it is possible to provide a more practical understanding of the social connection. Second, the thesis demonstrates the necessity to consider the diversity of older people. Activities were associated differently with loneliness in groups with distinct characteristics. The thesis found that context discrepancy profoundly affects the effectiveness of interventions.

Digital twin is an emerging technology that enhances digital transformation across many industries and domains. Most digital twins are made for a work context, and end users are the domain experts who carry knowledge in the work processes and products of which digital twin is part. The research gap for the present study is found in the missing adoption of a user-centered design approach and systematic evaluation of digital twins from the perspective of end users. User-Centered Design is a well-known design philosophy that engages users in the design process. By involving users, designers can better understand users and create situations where users can introduce their knowledge, needs and concerns into the products and systems. Emerging research questions for this study are: RQ1: What insights could be obtained with user-centered design and user involvement for the design of digital twin? RQ2: What limitations could user-centered design and user involvement incorporate in the design process of digital twins? This study will use both previous studies and empirical data from a scenario-based approach, workshops, observation, and interviews. Further, it will explore a theoretical framework combining User-Centered Design and Activity theory. This study aims to investigate what knowledge we can gain with users in focus and how that might help to fill the knowledge gap of previous research about user-centered involvement.

This nested case study inquires about the partnership between primary school teachers and local actors within the wood industry to perform a place-based educative lesson in the Swiss region of Gruyère Pays-d’Enhaut. Five different cases relate the encounter between a teacher and a local actor and enable the description of the particularities and outcomes of such partnerships. After observing activities and interviewing the members of the partnerships, the researcher analyzes the data by comparing the cases and using a Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) model to describe the system of activity resulting from the partnership.  The study reveals that a win-win effect is present in the partnership teacher/local actor, despite some tensions regarding the role of the members. While the teacher is using the partnership as a valuable resource to create a succession of meaningful experiences for learning, the local actor is using it to get some recognition for his work and share his message within the community. This implies requestioning the role of school in society, as the institution becomes helpful not only for the young generation but also to empower the local community and its cohesion.   Outcomes in terms of experiential learning are discussed, along with the processes of decolonization and reinhabilitation inherent to the approach. The relevance of such partnership is also discussed as a tool to implement Environmental and Sustainable Education (ESE), as the findings reveal its great potential for working on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and issues that concern the local community, englobing the values expressed by its members. The crucial role of the teachers to ensure the adequacy of the approach is enhanced.

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