Objectives. The aim of this thesis was to study the prognosis, health care utilization and health situation in stroke patients, and informal caregiver burden during the first post-stroke year. Material and methods. 390 patients, 65 years or older, discharged from hospital after a stroke, were followed with repeated patient interviews, patient record and register data, and hospital staff and informal caregiver questionnaires. Results. Prognosis assessments performed by hospital staff at discharge regarding the course of events during the following year were highly accurate and were mainly influenced by the patient’s pre- and post-morbid state. The risk of dying or having a new stroke decreased rapidly during the early post-morbid phase. Health care utilization, in hospitals as well as in primary health care, and municipal social service support was considerably higher after the stroke than before, but the utilization of services was lower than previously reported. Health problem prevalence according to interview and record scrutiny was modest, peaked early after discharge and then declined. Support from informal caregivers increased significantly after discharge and remained high during the first post-stroke year. The support given was mainly determined by patient functional ability, distance to patient, relation to patient, municipal social service support provided, and patient sex. The informal caregivers reported considerable strain and burden, with significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression than the stroke patients. Moreover, there was a parallel between the patient’s and the caregiver’s situation regarding anxiety, emotional and social situation, and home, social and outdoor activities. Conclusion. Hospital staff prognosis assessments of patient outcomes during the next year were highly accurate. Risk of recurrence and mortality, and health problem prevalence was high in the early post-stroke period, and than declined. Health care utilization and municipality social support increased over time. Informal caregivers reported considerable strain and burden.

The purpose of the present study is to examine the signification of identitary discourses in the novel Sefarad: Una novela de novelas by Antonio Muñoz Molina and determine to what extent these discourses represent and respond to identitary discourses in contemporary Spanish society. The analysis focuses on three principal questions: how is the narrative constructed, what is conveyed as a result, and what is the aim of the narrative. Identity is understood as a social construction, an individual and continuous process of assuming, defining, negotiating and maintaining cultural identities, elements of the surrounding world that provide the individual with a sense of meaning (Fromm 1956; Castiñeira 2005; Marsella 2008). The novel consists of different stories that manifest the social impact of the totalitarian regimes in Europe during the twentieth century, told by a diversity of voices. First, the analysis deals with the structure of the text, examined through the model of mise en abyme (Dällenbach 1989). Secondly, the significations of transition, transgression (Lotman 1978) and, analogically, stigmatization are deduced (Goffman 1972), processes that are related to the effects of the frontier as a metaphor (Pratt Ewing 1998) and to limit situations (Jaspers 1974). Thirdly, the study stresses the representation of the past, in which trauma, melancholy and mourning are significant (Benjamin 1992; Freud 1986). The conclusions confirm the claim that the novel corresponds to humanity’s treasure of suffering (Leidschatz), a cultural possession that thematizes the processes of memory and oblivion (Assmann 1999), represented through stories told by the victims of intolerance at different levels. The text is accordingly conceived as a mirror through which the narrator constructs his identity as a writer and transmits meaning to the reader by providing the opportunity to reflect upon identity issues today.

Syftet med föreliggande studie var att med avseende på upplevelser av delaktighet och livstillfedsställelse samt arbetssituation och sjukvårdskonsumtion jämföra två grupper som deltagit respektive inte deltagit i ett Strokescreeningprogram. En strukturerad enkät skickades ut till konsekutivt, retroaktivt utvalda personer. Det inkomna resultatet analyserades med hjälp av Chi2-test, Mann Whitney test, T-test, linjär regressionsanalys och multivariat logistisk regressionsanalys. Några signifikanta skillnader mellan grupperna kunde inte påvisas även om vissa tendenser noterades. Gruppen som deltagit i Strokescreeningprogrammet upplevde en mindre delaktighet i den personliga vården än gruppen som ej deltagit i Strokescreeningprogrammet. De strokedrabbade upplevde en signifikant lägre livstillfredsställelse än en referensgrupp bestående av en normalpopulation svenskar. Det fanns en markant skillnad mellan grupperna gällande sysselsättning före strokeinsjuknandet. Vid tillfället för studien var det en högre procent ur gruppen som deltagit i Strokescreeningprogrammet som återgått till arbete. Flera av deltagarna i gruppen som inte deltagit i Strokescreeningprogrammet hade en regelbunden, återkommande kontakt med primärvården. Föreliggande studies resultat väckte en del frågor gällande nyttan med Strokescreeningprogrammet i relation till kostnaden. Eftersom metoden att göra en enkätstudie hade en del svagheter både genom ett relativt högt bortfall och fråga om huruvida frågorna varit adekvata vore en uppföljande studie med intervjuer av studiens deltagare högst intressant. Intressant vore även en undersökning om frekvens av återinsjuknande i stroke i respektive grupp för att se om Strokescreeningprogrammet haft en sekundärpreventiv effekt. / The aim of this study was that, with focus on experiences of participation and life satisfaction, work situation and consumtion of non institutional care, compare two groups that had participated versus not participated in a stroke program for Strokescreening. A questionnaire was sent retrospective to a consequetive group of people. The results were analyzed with Chi2-test, Mann Whitney-test, T-test, linear regression analyzes and multiple logistic analyze. No significant differences could be shown between the groups even though some tendences were noted. The group who participated in the Strokescreening program experienced less participation in personal care than the group who did not participate. The strokepatients that participated in this study experienced a significant lower level of life satisfaction than a reference group of a normal population of Swedes. There was a prominent difference between the groups about occupation before the stroke. In time of this study there where some higher percentes in the group who participated in the Strokescreening program that had returned to work. Several of the participants in the group that had not participated in the Strokescreening program had a regulary contact with the non institutional care. The results of the present study arouse some questions about the benefit with the Strokescreening program related to the expences. The method of a questionnairy study had some weekness, both in a relatively high level of reduction of participants and a question about the relevace of the questions asked. Therefore, it would be of great interest to make an interview study of this population. It would also be of great interest to examin if there are any differences in the frequency of how many of the participants who gets another stroke in respective group. The purpose of that would be to see if the Strokescreening program has any secondary preventive effect.

The purpose of the present study is to examine the signification of identitary discourses in the novel Sefarad: Una novela de novelas by Antonio Muñoz Molina and determine to what extent these discourses represent and respond to identitary discourses in contemporary Spanish society. The analysis focuses on three principal questions: how is the narrative constructed, what is conveyed as a result, and what is the aim of the narrative. Identity is understood as a social construction, an individual and continuous process of assuming, defining, negotiating and maintaining cultural identities, elements of the surrounding world that provide the individual with a sense of meaning (Fromm 1956; Castiñeira 2005; Marsella 2008). The novel consists of different stories that manifest the social impact of the totalitarian regimes in Europe during the twentieth century, told by a diversity of voices. First, the analysis deals with the structure of the text, examined through the model of mise en abyme (Dällenbach 1989). Secondly, the significations of transition, transgression (Lotman 1978) and, analogically, stigmatization are deduced (Goffman 1972), processes that are related to the effects of the frontier as a metaphor (Pratt Ewing 1998) and to limit situations (Jaspers 1974). Thirdly, the study stresses the representation of the past, in which trauma, melancholy and mourning are significant (Benjamin 1992; Freud 1986). The conclusions confirm the claim that the novel corresponds to humanity’s treasure of suffering (Leidschatz), a cultural possession that thematizes the processes of memory and oblivion (Assmann 1999), represented through stories told by the victims of intolerance at different levels. The text is accordingly conceived as a mirror through which the narrator constructs his identity as a writer and transmits meaning to the reader by providing the opportunity to reflect upon identity issues today.

Les systèmes complexes actuels (cockpits, contrôle de trafic aérien, pilotage de drones,...) amènent les opérateurs à gérer un ensemble de tâches évoluant dynamiquement dans le temps, et imposent des changements fréquents de situation au cours d'une même mission. Ces transitions entre contextes (provoqués par l'ajout, le retrait, l'interruption ou la récupération d'une tâche) peuvent induire une rupture de la conscience de situation (Situation Awareness) de l'opérateur. Dans le cadre de cette thèse, nous introduisons la méthodologie SAMANTA (Situation Awareness Modeling and ANalysis for Transition Amelioration). Celle-ci, mise en oeuvre par les experts en charge de l'analyse et de la conception de futurs systèmes, contribue à l'étude et la résolution des difficultés engendrées par de telles transitions. Le processus d'analyse des transitions proposé s'appuie sur une approche duale de description des transitions à travers la modélisation des tâches, et des éléments de situation associés à chacune d'entre elles (les contextes). Les caractéristiques des transitions ainsi obtenues sont utilisées par l'analyste afin d'émettre des recommandations sur les interfaces du système considéré. Les utilisateurs (opérateurs de systèmes et experts du domaine) sont intégrés aux étapes clés du processus de conception. Un outil dédié a été développé dans le cadre de cette thèse dans le but de faciliter la mise en oeuvre de la méthodologie SAMANTA par les analystes. Une application concrète à la conception de futurs systèmes de drone est présentée, développant l'étude de deux transitions spécifiques.

This dissertation presents thirty-two poems and an introduction to the collection. In After My Third Tattoo, the poems’ speaker explores methods with which she perceives and constructs reality. Her exploration is the dramatic situation of each poem and the plot of the collection. The poems’ speaker regards physical objects, recalls experiences, and discovers how these objects and experiences hold psychological significance for her. With the intellectual and emotional associations she makes among objects and experiences, the speaker constructs, repeats and varies image patterns. Through her associations, she perceives overlaps in: the rational and emotional, the earthly and divine, the order imposed on her by society and the order that she builds through her own agency, and her perception and the perceptions of others. Finding agency through meditation and language liberates the speaker from identity-making terms that the lesbian speaker rejects.

Les systèmes complexes actuels (cockpits, contrôle de trafic aérien, pilotage de drones,...) amènent les opérateurs à gérer un ensemble de tâches évoluant dynamiquement dans le temps, et imposent des changements fréquents de situation au cours d'une même mission. Ces transitions entre contextes (provoqués par l'ajout, le retrait, l'interruption ou la récupération d'une tâche) peuvent induire une rupture de la conscience de situation (Situation Awareness) de l'opérateur. Dans le cadre de cette thèse, nous introduisons la méthodologie SAMANTA (Situation Awareness Modeling and ANalysis for Transition Amelioration). Celle-ci, mise en oeuvre par les experts en charge de l'analyse et de la conception de futurs systèmes, contribue à l'étude et la résolution des difficultés engendrées par de telles transitions. Le processus d'analyse des transitions proposé s'appuie sur une approche duale de description des transitions à travers la modélisation des tâches, et des éléments de situation associés à chacune d'entre elles (les contextes). Les caractéristiques des transitions ainsi obtenues sont utilisées par l'analyste afin d'émettre des recommandations sur les interfaces du système considéré. Les utilisateurs (opérateurs de systèmes et experts du domaine) sont intégrés aux étapes clés du processus de conception. Un outil dédié a été développé dans le cadre de cette thèse dans le but de faciliter la mise en oeuvre de la méthodologie SAMANTA par les analystes. Une application concrète à la conception de futurs systèmes de drone est présentée, développant l'étude de deux transitions spécifiques.

Globally, there are 2.5 billion people who do not have access to improved sanitation. One third of these people are living in India. Bad sanitation is both undignified and causes the spread of diseases like diarrhoea. It is a large challenge to handle the problematic situation with sanitation, especially in urban areas. Sustainable sanitary systems that are energy self-sufficient and do not require sewage system are needed. There are new techniques with this in mind that are under development. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the possibilities to implement a sustainable sanitary system in slum areas of Mumbai. The chosen area and existing sanitary techniques is investigated in the literature study. To understand the user requirements and their living situation, a field study is performed in slum areas of Mumbai. Interviews are held with experts from organisations working with the sanitary situation in the area to get a deeper understanding about their experiences. The sanitary situation today is not well functioning, a new way of solving the problem is needed and it has to happen soon. Through an analysis of the empirical findings, three different sanitary situations are presented. It is important that each area is investigated to identify what situation there is, before building new sanitary facilities. To achieve a more sustainable sanitation, one system for each of the three situations should be developed. Requirements for each of the situations are presented and they all have two things in common, the toilet is shared between a determined amount of people and the user has the responsibility for the maintenance. From a cross mapping between the investigated sanitary techniques and the requirements for the three situations, it is clarified what techniques that are suitable in which context. No one of the investigated techniques is a perfect match and further development is needed. One of the sanitary situations is taken further through concept development. The concepts are compared against the requirements to identify the best concept. The best concept with modifications is visualised to exemplify how it may be designed. In the comparison between the requirements and concepts, gaps in the design and issues for further development are identified. The core of this master thesis is to emphasise the importance of having a holistic approach concerning the sanitary situation. It is important that new techniques are being developed with a close connection to the users and the specific environment. By investing money in more sustainable systems, the situation for the slum residents in Mumbai can be improved and at the same time contribute to a more sustainable society.

En cas d'accident impliquant des produits chimiques, il peut être fait appel à des experts pour évaluer les effets générés par cet accident. Ces experts fournissent des distances d'effets à l'aide de modélisations informatiques et sont confrontés à une difficulté majeure : peu d'éléments à leur disposition pour caractériser la situation.L'objectif de cette thèse est de proposer une méthodologie permettant de prendre en compte les incertitudes relatives aux données d'entrée dans les modélisations effectuées en situation d'urgence tout en restituant de manière explicite cette incertitude au gestionnaire de la situation d'urgence.Une première phase a consisté à évaluer, pour une situation à même de générer un nuage toxique ou explosible, la dispersion des résultats des modélisations. Il a été établi une hiérarchisation des variables d'entrée en fonction de leur influence sur le résultat final. Cette phase a été réalisée au moyen d'une analyse de sensibilité dont la stratégie a été spécifiquement développée.Une seconde phase a eu pour but d'établir une méthodologie d'estimation des distances d'effets en situation d'urgence en tenant compte du niveau d'incertitude des variables d'entrée. Une méthodologie de classification opérationnelle des données d'entrée a été réalisée. Elle s'appuie sur deux critères : la sensibilité du modèle au paramètre d'entrée et l'incertitude sur sa valeur (imprécision ou variabilité). Sur cette base, une nouvelle manière d'utiliser ces variables a été proposée. Enfin, différentes façons de restituer de manière opérationnelle les résultats des modélisations ont été proposées.

Trip planning is a well cited problem for which various solutions have been reported in the literature. This problem has been typically addressed, to a large extent, as a shortest distance path planning problem. In some scenarios, the concept of shortest path is extended to reflect temporal objectives and/or constraints. This work takes an alternative perspective to the trip planning problem in the sense it being situation aware. Thus, allowing multitudes of traveler centric objectives and constraints, as well as aspects of the environment as they pertain to the trip and the traveler. The work in this thesis introduces TSADA (Traveler Situation Awareness and Decision Aid) system. TSADA is designed as a modular system that combines linguistic situation assessment with user-centric decision-making. The trip planning problem is modeled as a graph G. The objective is to find a route with the minimum cost. Both hard and soft objective/attributes are incorporated. Soft objective/attributes such as safety, speed and driving comfortability are described using a linguistic framework and processed using hierarchical fuzzy inference engine. A user centric situation assessment is used to compute feasible routes and map them into route recommendation scheme: recommended, marginally recommended, and not recommended. In this work, we introduce traveler's doctrines concept. This concept is proposed to make the process of situation assessment user centric by being driven by the doctrine that synthesizes the user's specific demands. Hard attributes/objectives, such as the time window and trip monitory allowances, are included in the process of determining the final decision about the trip. We present the underline mathematical formulation for this system and explain the working of the proposed system to achieve optimal performance. Results are introduced to show how the system performs under a wide range of scenarios. The thesis is concluded with a discussion on findings and recommendations for future work.