Små och medelstora företag (SMEs) utgör ungefär 99,9% av alla företag i Sverige och marknaden för business intelligence-verktyg, komponenter och system har växt exponentiellt på grund av lägre kostnader för data mining och datavarulagring. Trender inom BI-verktygen har fått leverantörer att vända sig till detta marknadssegment med nya produkter som open source-mjukvara samt software as a service. I denna studie belyser vi hur SMEs uppfattar och använder BI genom att fokusera hur mogna små och medelstora företag är i deras användning av BI-teknologi. Detta gjordes genom intervjuer med representanter från 4 svenska SMEs. Genom datainsamling och analys med hjälp av Gartner Groups Maturity-modell indikerar denna studie att mer uppmärksamhet måste riktas mot rollen som BI-teknologi kan spela för att stödja affärsprocesser och beslutsfattande. Det är vår slutsats att Business Intelligence system i svenska SMEs används för att bekräfta vad man redan vet, istället för att ge insikter om nya affärer vilket i sin tur hindrar ett mer gynnsamt användande- Det är vår rekommendation att dessa verksamheter bör skifta fokus från tekniska problem. och fokusera på problem som hindrar möjligheter att uppnå gemensamma målsättningar för organisationens användande av BI-teknologi. / Small and medium sized enterprises (SME) make up about 99,9% of all enterprises in Sweden and the market for business intelligence tools, components and systems have grown exponentially due to lower costs for data mining and warehousing options. Trends within BI- tools have turned suppliers towards this great market segment with new products such as open source software and software as a service. In this study we bring to light how SMEs perceive and use BI by focusing how mature small and medium sized enterprises are in their use of BI technology. This was done by conducting interviews with representatives from 4 Swedish SMEs. Through data collection and analysis using the Gartner Group Maturity model, this study indicates that more attention needs to be put on the role BI technology can play in order to support the business processes and decision making. It is our conclusion that Business Intelligence systems in Swedish SMEs are used to confirm what they already know rather than giving insights to new prospectives, which hinders a more prosperous usage. Our recommendation is that these enterprises should shift their focus from the technical problems, and instead focus on problems hindering the possibility to attain common objectives for the organizations use of BI technology.

While food hypersensitivity can be a life-threatening problem, its scope is yet to be fully developed. More work is needed to further define its parameters but basic food hypersensitivity has been significantly clarified in the decade of the 80's to become standard practice for most updated allergists. Studies related to inhalation of food antigens remains within the purview of research centers as does other immunologic processes. The diagnosis of food hypersensitivity remains dependent on the medical history with test like elimination diets, skin testing, and RAST. Double-blind, placebo-controlled, food challenges (DBPCFC) provide the most definitive support for the association between certain symptoms and a specific food.

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Regulatory T cells (Treg) are essential for the induction and maintenance of immunological tolerance to self and foreign antigens. The development of allergic asthma is mediated by T helper cell type-2 (Th2) inflammatory mechanisms and may also involve, based on murine and human studies of allergic asthma, compromised Treg immune regulation. Our overall objective was to more thoroughly elucidate the biology of Treg in allergic asthma, and to better understand their potential as a treatment for the disease. Initially, we characterized three different Treg phenotypes based on frequency and functional capacity. We showed both quantitative and functional heterogeneity in circulating Treg. Quantitative variability was also observed in circulating, but not airway, Treg when comparisons were made between healthy controls and asthmatic subjects. These findings emphasize the need for clear definitions of Treg phenotypes, and that interpretation of their frequency and function in health and disease needs to be phenotype-specific. Next, we assessed the Treg response in mild allergic asthmatic isolated early responders and dual responders after allergen inhalation challenge. We observed a reduced frequency of airway Treg after allergen challenge in DR, but not IER, associated with a smaller ratio of Treg to CD4+ cells. These data suggest that Treg to T effector cell (Teff) balance is important in the regulation of late asthmatic responses. Lastly, we evaluated the effects of two novel monoclonal anti-asthma therapies on circulating Treg after allergen inhalation challenge. We demonstrated that neither anti-OX40L nor anti-TSLP therapy altered circulating Treg frequency, while anti-TSLP, but not anti-OX40L, was effective in attenuating allergen-induced airway responses. These observations demonstrate the need for further investigation into the effects of anti-asthma therapies on Treg as well as the development of novel therapies aimed at manipulating Treg in order to better control immune responses. The findings of this thesis enhance our understanding of Treg in allergic asthma. Treg, utilized as stand-alone or adjunct therapy, may provide a novel therapy in the treatment of allergic asthma. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

<p dir="ltr">Invasive species wreak havoc on global ecosystems, with negative ecological and economic consequences. Human activities, primarily stemming from globalization, trade, and increased travel, have played a significant role in accelerating species invasions. To manage and possibly mitigate these challenges, humans can harness data analysis to predict and control species invasions. Addressing this issue requires an understanding of the spatiotemporal dynamics of invasions. This research developed an innovative visualization tool designed to illustrate complex spatiotemporal data pertaining to species invasion routes. By analyzing pest invasion records spanning from 1905 to 2020, the tool presents the invasion trajectories of four non-native species in the eastern United States. Implementing spatial tools such as road networks and terrain, the visualization clarifies the spatiotemporal progression of these invasions, allowing users to intuitively determine invasion epicenters, and identify propagation pathways. Additional features enable the examination of correlations between highway systems, terrain, and invasion dynamics. Following a comprehensive training and exploration phase with domain experts, the efficacy of the tool was proven. The findings underline the proposed solution’s potential to enhance users’ comprehension of invasion dynamics, highlight intrusion centers, and indicate the influence of external factors on species expansion. This study not only validates the visualization tool’s capability but also serves as a foundation for future spatiotemporal research endeavors.</p>

Pasture-associated severe equine asthma (EPA) is a progressive condition affecting horses in the southeastern United States. Pulmonary function testing with methacholine challenge (MC) provides a definitive diagnosis by eliciting airway hyper-responsiveness. Most horses require extensive conditioning to accept the instrumentation. Our hypothesis was that MC protocols designed to elicit airway hyper-responsiveness would yield equivalent results in the presence and absence of sedation. Sedated and unsedated MCs were performed on 8 EPA-affected horses, with each horse acting as its own control. Acepromazine was superior to xylazine/butorphanol, resulting in sedation and data collection. Based on American Thoracic Society guidelines, an acceptable ability to detect differences in lung resistance is less than a twofold difference in the provocative concentration of methacholine that elicited a 40% increase in lung resistance (PC40RL). Significant differences in PC40RL were not detected. Validation of a sedation protocol for use in MC will expand the application of this diagnostic.

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