Stakeholders' risk assessments are increasingly emphasising the importance of considering the risks and opportunities posed by climate change. Therefore, TCFD has published recommendations to standardise and compare the reporting of climate-related issues. Prior research has demonstrated a low level of TCFD recommendation adherence. As a result, it is questioned what affects the scope of climate reporting according to TCFD and how the scope differs between companies. The study examines adherence to TCFD recommendations among 28 Swedish financial and real estate companies, finding that on average, they comply with most of the recommendations, but there is variability among companies. The study identifies areas where Swedish companies excel and where they need to improve. Larger companies are more likely to follow climate reporting practices, but the legitimacy theory may not apply to the current context. The relationship between debt levels and climate reporting is complex and requires more research. The proposed hypothesis that there is a correlation between adherence rate and financial performance was rejected. The study discusses promoting sustainable business practices and the link between four company specific characteristics and compliance with TCFD recommendations. The study's contributions can inform policy making, investment decisions, and corporate strategy, but the study has limitations. / Intressenternas riskbedömningar understryker alltmer vikten av att ta hänsyn till de risker och möjligheter som klimatförändringarna innebär. Därför har TCFD publicerat rekommendationer för att standardisera och jämföra rapporteringen av klimatrelaterade frågor. Tidigare forskning har visat en låg efterföljandegrad av TCFD:s rekommendationer. Som ett resultat av detta ifrågasätts vad som påverkar omfattningen av klimatrapporteringen enligt TCFD och hur omfattningen skiljer sig mellan bolag. Studien undersöker efterlevnaden av TCFD:s rekommendationer bland 28 svenska finans- och fastighetsbolag, och finner att de i genomsnitt följer de flesta av rekommendationerna, men det finns variationer mellan bolag. Studien identifierar områden där svenska bolag utmärker sig och där de behöver förbättras. Vidare undersöker studien vilka bolagsspecifika egenskaper som kan förklara graden av efterlevnad av rekommendationerna. Det konstaterades att större bolag är mer benägna att följa TCFD:s rekommendationer, jämfört med mindre bolag. Egenskaperna för miljöprestanda, skuldsättning och finansiell prestanda kunde dock inte förklara efterföljandegraden. Studien diskuterar främjande av hållbara affärsmetoder och kopplingen mellan fyra bolagsspecifika egenskaper och efterlevnad av TCFD:s rekommendationer. Studien kan bidra med underlag för policyskapande, investeringsbeslut och framtagandet av företagsstrategier, men studien har begränsningar.

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Groundwater is a valuable source of drinking water and projects that manages groundwaterneed to prevent complications on the water’s characteristics. In an infrastructural project,groundwater reduced from elevated levels of nitrate needed to be recharged into the aquifer inthe area. This study aimed to describe important parameters to consider while performingartificial recharge. To fulfil the aim four research questions were answered; 1) What are thesurficial deposits in the area and how do they affect infiltration? 2) Are there any geologicalstructures that can influence the flow pattern due to infiltration? 3) What is the flow directionpattern in the area and how does it affect infiltration? 4) How does the infiltration attemptinfluence the groundwater levels and flow pattern in the aquifer? Previous literatures werestudied to find parameters that could affect the choice of location for an infiltration attempt.These parameters were used in Pugh’s concept selection and the most suitable location wasfound. To evaluate the attempt the groundwater levels were measured before and afterinfiltration to locate any local rise in groundwater levels. The results showed no rise ingroundwater levels that would change the flow pattern in the area and the location proved tobe suitable for infiltration in the future. The surficial deposits, groundwater flow direction andthe bedrock topology in the area proved to be important parameters that limited the possiblelocations for groundwater recharge. Future studies need to include these parameters and takeeconomic factors and land use into account to find appropriate infiltration locations.

Concentrations of potentially toxic metals in surface soils are important to investigate before building new residential areas. Prior to development of a residential area in Sundsvall, northern Sweden, it was observed that barium (Ba) concentrations in the soil at the site exceeded the guideline value of 200 mg kg-1 outlined by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. In this study, I aimed at determining the reason for the high Ba concentrations in the O horizon of soils from this latter area. 49 O horizon samples were collected from two separate transects (about 36 km long). A total of 43 Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) needles were collected from both transects to determine potential Ba accumulation in plants. The O horizon and pine needle samples were analyzed using X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF) to determine Ba concentrations. The total mean concentration of Ba was 426±289 mg kg-1 without any relationship to industrial sources. Barium concentrations were negatively correlated to soil organic matter (r = -0.885). Correlations between Ba, aluminum (Al), silicon (Si) and potassium (K) was r = 0.565, r = 0.486 and 0.525, a finding that suggests a strong positive coupling to elements typically found in silicate minerals. Barium concentrations in pine needle samples were below limit of detection (<LOD) suggesting that “plant pumping” via roots to the soil surface was an unlikely explanation for high concentrations in the O horizon. I conclude that the minerals in the O horizon originate from inmixing from the underlying mineral soil, therefore, high Ba concentrations in the study area is likely due to naturally occurring minerals.

Four different heat wave definitions (as outlined by Hajat et al, 2006; D’lppoliti et al, 2010; Anderson and Bell, 2011; Nairn and Fawcett, 2013) were used to characterize heat wave mortality across the United States. The goal was to identify if certain definitions perform better or worse than others. Overall every definition performed poorly, resulting in high False-Alarm Ratios and low Heidke Skill Scores. However, the Nairn and Fawcett (2013) and Anderson and Bell (2011) definitions performed consistently better than the other definitions. Despite several limitations, the results of this study indicate that the heat wave definitions need refinement. Additionally, the Nairn and Fawcett (2013) definition could be one of the best definitions for assessing heat waves and heat-related mortality.

In order to further explore the nature of anesthesia-induced unconsciousness and its relationship to nociception, investigators attempted to determine whether mismatch negativity could be detected during general anesthesia and surgery. An auditory odd-ball paradigm designed to elicit mismatch negativity was presented to ten patients during general anesthesia and surgery. Five of the ten also underwent testing in the awake state prior to surgery. Multiple EEG recordings were obtained in each patient and each condition using the BioSemi ActiveTwo 64 EEG electrode system. The anesthetic regime required only that 0.7 MAC of an inhaled agent was administered. Several methods of analysis were utilized to determine whether an MMN response could be identified: visual inspection of ERP waveforms, targeted t-tests, cluster permutation tests, and multivariate pattern analysis. Whereas deviant-related negativity was readily detected in the awake state, deviant-related negativity was not detected during surgery and general anesthesia. Results demonstrate that essential components of the MMN response are abolished during typically conducted general anesthesia even with significant surgical stimulation. These results are consistent with previous research on ERPs and anesthesia. Results cast doubt on the possibility of sensory memory related to intraoperative events. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Due to a lack of in-situ methods capable of detecting sub-lethal effects of pollutants on soil organisms, many polluted environments are not identified prior to pollution-induced changes in the soil fauna. Therefore, there is a need to develop new non-invasive methods to measure the health of soil organisms. This study aimed to assess to what extent surface borne vibrations can inform about ant health effects from exposure to sublethal doses of a pesticide (imidacloprid). Twelve ant colonies were set up with artificial nests and fed a glucose and imidacloprid solution (0.01 mg/L, 0.1 mg/L, 1 mg/L and 10 mg/L imidacloprid). After two days, five random ants were placed in an arena where the vibrations were recorded in five one-minute blocks using a Laser Doppler Vibrometer (LDV). No significant difference was found in activity per minute between the different concentrations, although there was a measurable increase in mortality between the concentrations from the second day of exposure to the fifth. Even so, the LDV may still be a viable method, as it clearly recorded vibrations caused by ant movement. If more ants were recorded for longer periods, and more replicates were used, it seems likely the method would have been sensitive enough to detect the effect of the studied pesticide. With an improved experiment design, using the LDV for this purpose may be possible, and the current lack of such a method necessitates further research on the subject.

Background: Work-related stress among newly graduated nurses is a problem that results in ill health for the nurses and negatively impacts patient care, risking patient safety. For newly graduated nurses to provide quality and safe nursing care despite work-related stress, it is necessary to understand their experience regarding how work-related stress affects their nursingpractice. Purpose: The aim was to shed light on newly graduated nurses' experiences of work-related stress. Method: A general literature review, including ten original articles, was analysed using Graneheim & Lundmans method of qualitative content analysis. Results: The results of the literature study identified two categories and five subcategories: The transition from theory to practice with the subcategories of Managing unexpected workload, Being clinically ignorant, and Fear of making mistakes. New to the team with subcategories, Adapting to the healthcare team and Meeting expectations. Conclusions: The experience of work-related stress among newly graduated nurses affects their nursing practice and jeopardizes patient safety. With support from experienced nurses, colleagues, and adequate preparation, the transition process can be facilitated, enabling newly graduated nurses to provide quality and safe nursing care more easily. Further research: A longitudinal study would enable investigation of possible patterns and trends regarding stress levels, coping strategies and their impact on nurses' well-being, with a specific focus onnursing work and patient safety.

Specific ERPs such as error- related negativity (ERN) and feedback- related negativity (FRN) reflect error processing/performance monitoring. The reinforcement learning theory of error processing suggests that ERN reflects the first detection of error commission. In order to elicit ERN, participants must perceive a response as erroneous. This implies that as learning occurs, ERN amplitude increases. A previous study (Horst, Johnson, & Donchin, 1980) examining the P300 component on a learning task demonstrated increased amplitude in response to violations of participants’ expectations about task events. The current study sought to replicate this finding while extending the analysis to include ERN and FRN amplitudes on incorrect trials. Participants completed a complex learning task in which they were required to learn 3 lists of paired nonsense syllables. Participants viewed a stimulus syllable, typed what they believed to be the correct response, then indicated their confidence level on a scale from 0- 100. Feedback was then presented regarding response accuracy. Each list was considered learned after 10 consecutively correct trials. Data from electrodes Fz, Cz, Pz, and Oz showed an increased ERN amplitude 50ms after error commission on incorrect trials. The ERN and FRN amplitudes were greater for incorrect trials than for correct trials. Larger P300 amplitudes were observed for trials in which participants’ outcome expectation was violated. This extension of previous findings provides further insight into the role of error processing in the context of reinforcement learning.

Error- related Negativity (ERN) is an event- related potential elicited by the commission of errors. It appears as a negative deflection peaking between 50ms and 100ms after an erroneous response. Previous literature demonstrated that individuals who suffer from either anxiety or depression display a higher ERN amplitude compared to a control group. It has also been shown that people with ADHD display a lower ERN amplitude. Based on these findings, we investigated the relationships between these three disorders and their effects on the amplitude of the ERN. We recruited thirty- one students at East Tennessee State University and gathered data on their level of anxiety, depression, and ADHD through completion of three surveys: the Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and the ADHD self- report scale. Subsequently, participants were asked to perform a modified Flanker task while their EEG was collected using a 32- channel EEG cap. ERN amplitude for error responses was significantly higher than ERN amplitude for correct responses. In contrast with previous literature, no significant influence on the ERN due to anxiety, depression, and ADHD was found. Additional research on the topic with larger sample size and different diagnostic procedures may be necessary to further investigate the phenomenon.