L'étude des handicaps liés au vieillissement est abordée en interrogeant le concept d'accessibilité. Dans le cadre de la réflexion que nous proposons de mener, nous parlerons de handicaps liés au vieillissement pour désigner l'inadéquation entre l'environnement et l'état de santé des personnes âgées en perte d'autonomie. Cette recherche vise à comprendre la mobilité des piétons âgés et plus particulièrement leurs pratiques de la marche autour de leurs domiciles. Être mobile au quotidien pour les personnes âgées au seuil de la dépendance constitue un véritable défi. Or avec l'avancée en âge bon nombre de personnes âgées connaissent des déficiences auditives, visuelles et/ou motrices modifiant leur rapport à l'espace et limitant leur possibilité de se déplacer sur de longues distances ou de se repérer et de s'orienter dans l'espace. De ce fait, la pratique de la marche des personnes âgées autour de leur domicile fait émerger un besoin d'aménagement de l'espace urbain Nous posons la question suivante : le cheminement de la personne âgée est-il le révélateur de la qualité de l'aménagement urbain et d'espaces de bienêtre ? Outre des investigations bibliographiques préliminaires, cette recherche a pris la forme d'études de cas en France et au Québec, consistant notamment à interviewer les personnes âgées et les acteurs publics agissant auprès des personnes âgées dans chacune de ces villes. Cette série d'entretiens nous a conduit à mettre en évidence les processus de mise en accessibilité de l'espace public urbain afin d'accroître le soutien à l'autonomie des personnes âgées à domicile et de favoriser leur intégration sociale au sein d'espaces de qualité existant ou en devenir.

The research question was stirred by observations that the set-up of the clinical situation seems to contain elements that have a deep impact on the patient. I found that the clinical situation shows important similarities to the space for play that children negotiate when they want to immerse themselves in mutual phantasy play. Consequently, one overall purpose of the present study is to explore the psychoanalytic situation as a play situation with the help of two clinical vignettes.In the first part, I give a picture of my understanding of Freud’s reasons for shaping his clinical situation as he did. A critical scrutiny of Freud’s case of the Rat Man gave us keys to an understanding of the clinical method’s contradictoriness.A tentative hypothesis was framed that the set-up of psychoanalysis’s clinical situation induces an ambiguity about different levels of reality, the purpose being to create a space in the course of the analysis in which this confusion can be analyzed and comprehended. This work on the ambiguity of the reality links psychoanalysis with the intimate and spontaneous interaction that characterizes children’s social phantasy play. The investigation came to the conclusion that there exists a conspicuous equivalence between the two situations. The issue of what connects the universal play situation of children on the one hand, with the specific psychoanalytic situation on the other, makes a point of departure from which to approach and investigate the field of inquiry.The theory is that a ‘play’ with factual and illusory asymmetry generates a field of tension that serves as a sounding board from the moment of psychoanalysis's introductory negotiations until its ending. A third area is created that supports a mutual explorative space that in its turn makes a bridge between outer and inner reality and between now and the past. In such a context the phenomenon of play becomes a transformational concept.The conclusion is that psychoanalysis organizes a clinical situation that speaks to a profound and universal human need and that it is understood as an analogy of the play situation of children.

Advances in information technology produce large sets of data for decision makers. In both military and civilian efforts to achieve decision superiority, decision makers have to act agilely with proper, adequate and relevant information available. Information fusion is a process aimed to support decision makers’ situation awareness. This involves a process of combining data and information from disparate sources with prior information or knowledge to obtain an improved state estimate about an agent or other relevant phenomena. The important issue in decision making is not only assessing the current situation but also envisioning how a situation may evolve. In this work we focus on the prediction part of decision making called predictive situation awareness. We introduce new methodology where simulations and plan recognition are tools for achieving improved predictive situation awareness. Plan recognition is the term given to the process of inferring an agent’s intentions from a set of actions and is intended to support decision making. Beside its main task that is to support decision makers’ predictive situation awareness, plan recognition could also be used for coordination of actions and for developing computer-game agents that possess cognitive ability to recognize other agents’ behaviour. Successful plan recognition is heavily dependent on the data that is supplied. Therefore we introduce a bridge between plan recognition and sensor management where results of our plan recognition are reused to the control of, to give focus of attention to, the sensors that are expected to acquire the most important/relevant information. Our methodologies include knowledge representation, embedded stochastic simulations, microeconomics, imprecise knowledge and statistical inference issues. / QC 20100922

The theme of this thesis is environmental research as a tool for change. In the first part of the thesis a “Situation of Opportunity” is studied, i.e. a situation when the opportunities to reduce negative environmental impacts are larger than usual. The maintenance of a multi- family residential area, here called a Small Neighbourhood, is studied as a series of Situations of Opportunity. To explore the prerequisites for using maintenance as a Situation of Opportunity, two case studies were carried out and reported as a licentiate thesis. The first one on the rental area Idö-Våldö in Stockholm managed by the association Stockholms Kooperativa Bostadsförening (SKB), and the second one on Järven, a housing cooperative in Malmö that cooperates with the management organisation HSB Malmö. In the study the researcher developed long-term environmental strategies based on the planned maintenance of the areas. Besides exploring the prerequisites for using planned maintenance as a Situation of Opportunity, the intention was that the studies would initiate an environmental practice within the areas studied. Results indicated that maintenance, at least in principle, creates many possibilities for reducing negative environmental impacts and that it to some extent also can be used for creating a dialogue between residents and managers. However, the conditions for using maintenance in the cases studied were limited by low interest among the residents as well as the economical and organisational prerequisites of the cases. The studies did not initiate an environmental practice as intended. The reason for that might be the mentioned conditions, but it could also depend on the researcher’s limited knowledge on action-oriented and collaborative research. Thus, the second part of the thesis aims at developing a research methodology for such research. Based on empirical experiences from the Idö-Våldö and Järven-studies and a literature study, a methodology for action-oriented research for environmentally sustainable housing (ARESH) is outlined. It is proposed that methods of action research and of case study methodology could be applied in ARESH. However, there are several potential conflicts in ARESH. The researcher has for instance to judge if the study should be led in the first hand by participants or by researchers, or if it should be more oriented towards theory than practice. One conclusion is that a research methodology for such research needs to be further discussed and also further explored in practice. Since there are indications that a collaborative and action-oriented research is evolving in the field of environmental research, it is hoped that the findings of the thesis can contribute to a discussion on how to carry out research as a tool for change / QC 20110121

Aim: Vätternrundan is one of three cycling rides organised yearly in Motala,Sweden. It is one of the world’s largest cycling events in number of participants, but staying at the top requires constant reinvention and reconfiguration. The purpose of this study is to formulate a strategic marketing plan for the business unit Vätternrunda answering the following questions for effectiv marketing management. - How can competitive advantage be achieved? - What is the holistic current situation of the business? - What marketing strategy can and should be used? Method: The work of formulating a plan is a creative process involving analysis of internal data, supplemented by market research. Empirical data has been collected from secondary sources such as existing documents and earlier studies complemented by the researchers observations, experiences and interviews with key actors. Result & Conclusions: The results show a growing potential market, provided that it is properly targeted. The strategies possible are brand strengthening, product development and differentiation. Of great importance is also internal marketing and partner relationship development. The key to effective implementation is the organizational capabilities and core competence. Suggestions for future research: How to amplify the efficiency of an organization where social and profit-making objectives meet. Contribution of the thesis: The study brings strategic guidance to the company being studied but also additional knowledge of the market for other similar events as well as being a case study of possible interest to fellow academics.

Bröstcancer är en utav de vanligaste cancerdiagnoserna bland kvinnor. Omkring 7 000 svenska kvinnor blir diagnostiserade med sjukdomen varje år. Trots mängden bröstcancerdiagnoser ser prognosen god ut och 75 procent av kvinnorna överlever sjukdomen under en tioårsperiod. Syftet med denna studie var att belysa kvinnors upplevelser av hur bröstcancer påverkar livssituationen. Metoden var en litteraturöversikt. Analysen resulterade i tre huvudteman och sju underteman. Huvudtemana blev: Förvandlas från frisk till sjuk, Existentiella förändringar samt Vårdpersonalens betydelse. Resultaten visar att kvinnor med bröstcancer förlorar sin identitet. Förlusten leder till känslor av rädsla och lidande. Deras livsperspektiv förändras och de inser vad som är viktigt i livet. Fokus läggs nu relationer och egna intressen. Vidare visade vårt resultat att kvinnor upplevde stöd från närstående och vårdpersonal som betydelsefullt. / Breast cancer is one of the most common cancer diagnoses among women. Approximately 7 000 Swedish women are diagnosed with the disease every year. Despite the amount of breast cancer diagnoses the prognosis are good and 75 percent of the women survives from the disease during a 10 year period. The aim of this study was to shed light on women’s experiences of how breast cancer affects their life situation. The method was a literature review. The analyse resulted in three main themes and seven subthemes. The main themes became: Transition from healthy to sick, Existential changes and The impact of health care providers. The results showed that women with breast cancer lose their identity and these losses lead to feelings of fear and suffering. Their life perspective changed and they realized what’s important in life. They now focus on relationships and their own interests.   Furthermore, our result showed that women experience support from relationships and health care providers as important.

Many organizational changes have been accomplished in elder care since the 1980's and many of those have been influenced by market mechanisms. The purpose of this study is to examine how the implementation of these market mechanisms has affected three important aspects in the work situation for personnel. These aspects are, demand, control and support. To attain the purpose of this study, five qualitative interviews with home care personnel have been carried out. The interview material has been analyzed and structured with the help of Karasek and Theorells demand-control-support model. The study shows that the demands on personnel has increased, the prospect of personnel to control their work situation has both decreased and increased in different regards, finally, that support has improved after the implementation of market mechanisms in the municipality where the study was done. This implies that the personnel's prerequisites for self development, teaching and motivation in some regards seem to have improved. Although, at the same time, the increased demands of cost efficiency adhered to time pressure seems to hinder personnel from using their skills and to make work related decisions. This also means that they in their work situation are at a greater risk of suffering illness.

Denna studie bestod i att undersöka den rådande situationen för LNG som ett alternativt bränsle för industri, sjöfart och kraftproduktion. Informationsinsamling och granskning genomfördes i enlighet med en litteraturstudie, och dess resultat gav en övergripande bild av vad som hänt på området fram till nu. Man fick även viss insikt i hur LNG som bränslealternativ förväntas utvecklas framöver. Syftet med undersökningen var att kunna påvisa hur långt utvecklingen har kommit, med avseende på LNG och dess infrastruktur. Slutsatser som kunde dras var att man kommit en bra bit på väg, där vissa sektorer hunnit längre än andra. Ekonomiska och miljömässiga skäl framstår som drivande faktorer för de parter som överväger att introducera LNG i sin verksamhet. Bristande infrastruktur anges av många som den främsta orsaken till att man inte kommit längre i utvecklingen. Flertalet mottagningsterminaler för LNG har redan etablerats runt om i Nordamerika och i nordvästra Europa, varav en hittills har färdigställts i Sverige. Sannolikt kommer fler att uppföras under de kommande åren, med ökad tillgänglighet för industri, sjöfart och kraftproduktion som följd. / The main focus of this study was to examine the current state of LNG, and its applications as an alternative fuel for industry, shipping and power production. Gathering of data, and the subsequent scrutiny of the collected material, was performed in accordance with the methodology of a literary study. The result offered an overall view of what has happened up until now. It also suggested what possible developments might follow in the near future. The purpose of the study was to describe how far the development has progressed, with regards to LNG and its infrastructure. The conclusions that could be drawn from the study were that things are moving forward. Some sectors have however reached further than others. Economic and environmental reasons appear as main driving factors for those who are considering LNG as a part of their plan of operations. Lack of infrastructure is said to be a key reason why LNG still hasn´t gained momentum. Numerous LNG-terminals have been built in North America and around northwestern Europé, including one in Sweden. More facilities are being built in the years to come as well, steadily improving the availability of LNG.

Syfte: Beskriva hur arbetstidsfördelning och arbetssituation ser ut för sjuksköterskan på en hjärtavdelning. Metod: Strukturerad observationsstudie av deskriptiv design med kvantitativ ansats. 14 sjuksköterskor observerades under 18 arbetspass. Ett kategoriseringsschema användes som mätinstrument. Data bearbetades med en kvantitativ analysmetod. Huvudresultat: Sjuksköterskan lade en betydande del av arbetstiden på direkt patientkontakt, därefter en stor del på administrativa arbetsuppgifter. Ytterst liten del av tiden lades på arbetsuppgifter som kan utföras av annan personal. Arbetstidsfördelningen följde ett liknande mönster för A- och C-tur. Under C-tur avsatte sjuksköterskan betydligt mindre tid till rond och mer tid till rapportering och läkemedelshantering jämfört med A-tur. Sjuksköterskan avbröts var 12:e minut under A-tur och var 9:e minut under C-tur. Sjuksköterskan avbröts på rasten vid 5 av 18 observationer. Vid 15 av 18 observationer tog sjuksköterskan rasten hon/han hade rätt till. Sjuksköterskan arbetade utöver schemalagd arbetstid vid 10 av 18 observationer och slutade tidigare vid 5 av 18 observationer. Slutsats: En betydande del av sjuksköterskans arbetstid på hjärtavdelningen utgjordes av direkt patientkontakt och en ytterst liten del utgjordes av arbetsuppgifter som kan utföras av annan personal. Det finns dock rutiner som kan ses över. Tiden för rond under C-tur var nästan obefintlig och det höga antalet avbrott som sjuksköterskan utsattes för borde beaktas då det påverkar sjuksköterskans arbetssituation. / Aim: To describe the work situation and the distribution of working hours for the nurse at a cardiac department. Method: A structured observational study of descriptive design with a quantitative approach. 14 nurses were observed during 18 sessions. An activity schedule with categories was set up to collect data and then analyzed by a quantitative method. Main result: The nurse spent a considerable amount of time in direct contact with the patients. The second most time consuming activity was administration. The time spent on ”non-nursing duties” was insignificant. The distribution of working hours followed a similar pattern during the morning shift and the evening shift. More time was spent on reporting and handling medicines but significantly less doing rounds during the evening shift compared with the morning shift. The nurse was interrupted every 12 minutes during the morning shift and every 9 minutes during the evening shift. When having break disturbances occurred in 5 of 18 observations. In 15 of the 18 observations, the nurse was able to take her/his planned breaks. 10 of 18 observations meant work after scheduled time and in 5 of 18 observations the nurse was able to finish before scheduled time. Conclusion: The nurse in the cardiac department spends a considerable amount of time in direct contact with the patients, but almost none in ”non-nursing duties”. Though, there are routines, which should be improved. Routines to consider are the rounds during the evening shift, when almost insignificant time was spent, and the high number of interruptions affecting the nurse´s work situation.

Aus der Einleitung: "Retrospektive Befragungsmethoden zur Erfassung sozialer Situationen und sozialer Ereignisse spielen in der entwicklungspsychologischen, der klinischpsychologischen und psychiatrischen Verlaufsforschung trotz ihrer immanenten Methodenschwächen eine bedeutende Rolle. Ihre Nachteile liegen bei der Erfassung längerer Zeitabschnitte in konkreten Erinnerungsmängeln, Deutungsversuchen und dem Bemühen vieler Personen, retrospektiv Kausalverbindung herzustellen. Aufgrund forschungspraktischer Probleme und ihrer größeren Ökonomie lassen sich jedoch in vielen, vor allem hypothesengenierenden Studien retrospektive Untersuchungsansätze nicht durch prospektive Verlaufsstudien ersetzen. Dies gilt sowohl für die Erfassung der "natürlichen", nicht systematisch/ experimentell beeinflußten Krankheitsverläufe bestimmter Patientengruppen, als auch für epidemiologisch-orientierte Langzeituntersuchung unbehandelter Fälle und gesunder Kontrollpersonen (Blohmke 1975, v. Cranach und Wittcxhen 1980). [...]"