Dissertação apresentada ao Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência e Engenharia de Materiais da Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense - UNESC, para a obtenção do título de Mestre em Ciência e Engenharia de Materiais. / Several advances have occurred in the polymer industry in the last decade, among them, innovations in the use of additives, which enable the use of polymers in several areas. However, much remains to be studied regarding the behavior of these additives when exposed to transformation processes in which the polymers are normally subjected. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the structural modifications in stabilizing additives present in polymeric films, when subjected to corona treatment. Four different UV stabilizing additives were evaluated: benzophenone, benzotriazole, triazine and sebacate. The additives films were produced using an experimental design of mixtures by spin coating technique and they were subjected to ultraviolet radiation exposures and corona treatment. Analyzing the results obtained it was realized that the only additive that resisted to the treatment conditions imposed was benzotriazole, maintaining the absorption of ultraviolet radiation after treatment and continuing to protect the polymer from degradation. The other additives suffered degradation processes and the absorption of ultraviolet radiation presented earlier, ceased to exist. / Diversos avanços ocorreram na indústria polimérica na última década, podendo-se citar, dentre eles, inovações no uso de aditivos que possibilitaram a utilização de polímeros nas mais diversas áreas. Porém, muito ainda deve ser estudado quanto ao comportamento desses aditivos quando expostos aos processos de transformação aos quais os polímeros são submetidos. Sendo assim, o presente trabalho tem o objetivo de avaliar as mudanças ocorridas nos aditivos estabilizantes, presentes em filmes poliméricos, quando sujeitos a exposição ao tratamento corona. Quatro diferentes aditivos estabilizantes de UV foram avaliados: benzofenona, benzotriazol, sebacato e triazina. Os filmes aditivados foram produzidos segundo um planejamento experimental de misturas pela técnica de spin coating e os mesmos foram submetidos a exposições a radiação ultravioleta e ao tratamento corona. Através da análise dos resultados percebeu-se que o único aditivo que resistiu às condições de tratamento impostas foi o benzotriazol, não deixando de absorver radiação ultravioleta após os tratamentos, continuando a proteger o polímero e evitando sua degradação. Os demais aditivos sofreram processos de degradação e a absorção de radiação ultravioleta apresentada anteriormente às exposições deixou de existir.

Orientador: Nilson Cristino da Cruz / Banca: Maria Lúcia Pereira Antunes / Banca: Rogerio Pinto Mota / O Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia de Materiais, PosMat, tem caráter institucional e integra as atividades de pesquisa em materiais de diversos campi da Unesp / Resumo: O acúmulo de sais na superfície de isoladores acarreta a formação de arcos sobre os mesmos, aumentando o processo de corrosão por ácido nítrico. Essa corrosão pode iniciar uma falha da cadeia de isoladores. Atualmente o principal método para análise da corrosão em isoladores, baseia-se em câmaras térmicas e não se tem mostrado adequado para a detecção de defeitos por poluição salínica em seus estágios iniciais. Esse projeto propõe, a adoção de câmeras corona que operam em um comprimento de onda variando entre 240 - 280 nm, filtrando totalmente os raios solares UVA e UVB e permitindo a detecção do ponto aonde se encontra presente a anomalia. Embora as câmeras corona tenham sido amplamente utilizadas, principalmente em linhas de 135 kV até 500 kV, poucos experimentos foram realizados com as mesmas em tensões de 69 kV, tensão padrão da empresa patrocinadora do projeto. Nossa proposta é a de apresentar uma nova metodologia de inspeção utilizando esses equipamentos e possibilitando à empresa incrementar as suas atividades de inspeção. / Abstract: The accumulation of salt on the surface of insulators causes the formation of arcs, increasing the corrosion process by nitric acid. This corrosion can start a fault of the insulators chain. Presently the main method for corrosion analysis of insulators is based on thermal cameras and is not adequated to detect defects caused by salt pollution on initial stages. This project proposes the adoption of corona cameras operating in wavelengths ranging from 240 to 280 nm, with filters to block UVA and UVB from sunrays and allowing the detection of anomalous spots. Although the corona cameras have been widely used, especially in lines of 135 kV to 500 kV, few experiments have been performed with such an instrument at 69 kV, that is the standard voltage of the company sponsoring of the project. Our proposal is to present a new methodology for inspection using such instrument that enables the company to improve its inspection activities. / Mestre

abstract: High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) technology is being considered for several long distance point-to-point overhead transmission lines, because of their lower losses and higher transmission capability, when compared to AC systems. Insulators are used to support and isolate the conductors mechanically and electrically. Composite insulators are gaining popularity for both AC and DC lines, for the reasons of light weight and good performance under contaminated conditions. This research illustrates the electric potential and field computation on HVDC composite insulators by using the charge simulation method. The electric field is calculated under both dry and wet conditions. Under dry conditions, the field distributions along the insulators whose voltage levels range from 500 kV to 1200 kV are calculated and compared. The results indicate that the HVDC insulator produces higher electric field, when compared to AC insulator. Under wet conditions, a 500 kV insulator is modeled with discrete water droplets on the surface. In this case, the field distribution is affected by surface resistivity and separations between droplets. The corona effects on insulators are analyzed for both dry and wet conditions. Corona discharge is created, when electric field strength exceeds the threshold value. Corona and grading rings are placed near the end-fittings of the insulators to reduce occurrence of corona. The dimensions of these rings, specifically their radius, tube thickness and projection from end fittings are optimized. This will help the utilities design proper corona and grading rings to reduce the corona phenomena. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Electrical Engineering 2013

Ever since the discovery of DNA, there has been many pathologies identified effecting mankind. With the development in technology, there are many methods to alleviate these pathologies. One such is gene therapy or gene delivery. It is a process of introducing some foreign material into the body to correct the effected cells. In principle, it is a modern method to cure cells or a method to transfer nucleic acid into a cell to treat specific cells in the body. The process of delivering a genetic material is carried out using vectors, namely, viral vectors and non-viral vectors. In viral vectors, viruses are modified to make it efficient for delivery into the host cells. This method has high transduction rate as compared to non-viral method. Non-viral methods include chemical and physical transfection methods, which are used to deliver the gene of interest into the host cell unlike viral methods. In this study, a physical method using high voltage is used to deliver a genetic material into cells. High voltages are used to permeabilize the cell to allow the foreign material into it and to express it in the host cell. This process is termed as Electroporation. In specific, in this research, studying a process of charging a region that mimics skin and trying to localize the presence of electric fields on the surface where the strongest uptake of genetic material is found. In other words, region where the gene expression is strongest at a specific region if performed on skin is studied by localizing electric fields on the surfaces. My work is to characterize and develop where this effect takes place on the surface based on both positive and negative electric fields. A physical method is useful as it is a non-toxic way to get a DNA/protein into someone’s body without making them sick, unless if not using a virus to deliver. This is all done using high voltages up to 8kV and the electric fields produced due to high voltages are localized, visualized and characterized with both positive and negative polarities of voltages. In this study, experiments with high voltages are performed and the spread of charges at specific regions are collected using a needle. This needle goes into corona, which may be called as a secondary corona. It might be called a secondary corona because the flat conductor is being charged by a metal finger but not directly by the power supply. Here, the conductor is charged by a metal finger of high input voltage, which ionizes the air molecules above the flat conductor to form a conductive region. As the input voltage is increased further, electrons escape from the needle to air or from molecules to needle forming negative or positive ions respectively. The outputs at needle were measured on the oscilloscope. In this study, repeated sets of experiments are carried out to collect consistent and reliable data. Visualizing/characterizing these fields are important as maximum delivery takes place at high voltage regions, with a condition that permeability of the cells should be known for proper transfection to occur, otherwise cells would die due to high voltages or no transfection takes place due to poor permeability of cell membrane.

Type I noise storms constitute a sizeable fraction of the active-Sun component of solar radiation at meter wavelengths. The storms occur over a prolonged duration as intense, narrow-band spikes, superposed on a low-intensity broadband continuum, in the 30-400 MHz frequency range. Either component of the noise storm radiation has a very high degree of ordinary-mode circular polarization (~ 100 %), and is widely believed to be generated by the plasma emission mechanism. Existence of large sunspot groups or active region complexes, with a high degree of complexity and strength in the associated magnetic topology, have a remarkable spatio-temporal correlation to the occurance of noise storms. Hence type I noise storm events were employed as tracers in estimating the solar cycle activity, with specific relevance to resolving the mimimum-phase occuring between solar cycles 22 and 23, to a precise yet unique epoch of 1998 October,in consonance with the monthly average sunspot count and the 10.7 cm solar radio flux data. The latter have a proven close link with associated sunspot activity. Spatio-temporal correlation of energetic eruptive event termed Coronal Mass Ejection ( CME ), with the type I noise storm events has been convincingly established, from the point of view of ``Space Weather'' prediction. A particular aspect of this study has been the choice of limb-event CMEs as against the halo ones; this criterion has aided in an unambiguous position-angle determination for the eruption- site of the CMEs. Noise storms are found to be the precursors, temporally succeeded by the CME events over a time-scale of 1 to 14 hours. Large scale reconfiguration of the photospheric magnetic field topology, by way of reconnection, merging, cancellation or submergence, in the ambience of pre-existing lines of magnetic flux, triggered by the shearing and twisting motion of the footpoints, and leading to the sigmoid-to-arcade evolution of coronal magnetic loops, traces the event-specific linkage involving the type I noise storms and CMEs. Phenomena that occur at metric wavelengths in the solar corona, and vary on short time scales, are investigated, with the aid of a prototype, custom-built antenna-receiver system to the Gauribidanur RadioHeliograph ( GRH ). The GRH is a transit-mode instrument, while the time-delay control implemented on the prototype enables a radio source to be followed, as it traverses the sky at the sidereal rate. The delay-tracking scheme has been implemented on the front-end electronics, as this would eliminate the otherwise cumbersome task of mechanical-steering of the log-periodic dipole array, while also permitting radio observations over a significantly wider frequency band. The performance of the Gauribidanur Prototype Tracking System ( GPTS ) has been validated on the basis of exhaustive tests, in order to characterise its attenuation, phase, and pointing-accuracy, and optimised for solar observations at 77.5 MHz. Continuous Sun observation was performed with the GPTS, over a period from 24th of June, 2002 to 20th of August, 2002. The daily schedule involved solar observations at seven beam-positions on either side of the local meridian,spaced apart by ~ 9 deg., for about four hours each day. Absolute radio flux calibration was performed by following an identical observing schedule for the intense, unresolvable radio source Cygnus A. Periods of enhanced radio emission, corresponding to global rise in the solar radio radiation, were detected on several days. On each of those days of enhanced activity, the absolute deviation from the mean-flux, corresponding to the various beam-positions for that day, was determined. From this, the intra-day quasi-periodicity in solar radio flux was found to be 110 minutes, with the fluctuation in flux being 3 (+/- 1.5) sfu. Positional information from the Nancay (sic) Radioheliograph data, and features of the causative Active Regions of the underlying photospheric disk from the full-disk H-alpha images of the Big Bear Solar Observatory, along with the radio-spectral data published in the Solar Geophysical Data Reports led to conclusion that, heightened flux emission had been the result of the type I noise storms, known for their sharply defined directivity characteristics. The continuum component of type I noise storms is studied for variation in the frequency-dependent flux characteristics. Swept-frequency data from the Gauribidanur Radio Spectrograph, on 26th and 27th September 2000, in the 30-80 MHz band, were analyzed. The quiet-sun and burst components in the acquired data were excised-out. Absolute flux calibration was performed from spectral observations of Cygnus A in the same band. The spectral-index of the continuum was found to be ~ +3.7 . From a knowledge of the continuum source-size at various other spot frequency imaging observations, the source-size of the particular event was estimated, from interpolation and curve-fitting, to be 13.2 +/- 1.2 arcmin. From a knowledge of the continuum radio flux and its source-size, the brightness-temperature was found to vary from 1.07 x 1e7 to 1.96 x 1e7 K, in the 50 - 80 MHz band. Plasma emission is widely believed to bethe radiation mechanism for the continuum. The excitation of plasma waves by trapped, energetic electron beams moving along the coronal magnetic loops, and their coalescence with the low-frequency ion-acoustic waves or upper-hybrid waves excited due to shock-waves generated by magnetic reconnections above the active region complexes, at sites of coronal density inhomogeneities, are the cause for the noise storm radiation. From knowing the brightness-temperature in the source-region, the supra-thermal density in the electron-beam is estimated. Corroborative evidence, in the form of complementary observations for source-size, extent of the active region complexes, and the associated variations in strength and polarity of magnetic flux on the photosphere, the density enhancement over that of the tenuous coronal density, as per the Newkirk's model, above such active regions, the emission-measure, density, and brightness-temperature in the large-scale coronal loops interconnecting the trans-equatorial active regions in this case, in extreme uv and soft X Ray wavelengths, is applied to validate the assumptions, and estimations on various parameters involved in this plasma emission phenomenon. The burst component of type I noise storms is studied with the newly commissioned high temporal and spectral resolution spectrograph at the Gauribidanur Radio Observatory. The bursts reveal themselves as narrow-band, spiked events on the dynamic spectral records, and their occurance is of a stochastic nature. Isolated Type I bursts were chosen based on their bandwidth (2-2.5 MHz ), fractional-bandwidth ( 1.5 ), lifetime ( 1.5 seconds ), and their radio flux (~ 20-40 sfu ) distribution. The dynamic~- spectrum was calibrated from galactic background observations towards the direction of the North and the South Galactic poles. The flux calibration scheme is ideally suited for those radio telescopes capable of a low spatial resolution, wherein the predominant contribution to the system temperature arrives from the galactic background radiation. The frequency and time profiles of the bursts were analyzed on a case-by-case basis. The results of the study reveal that, a majority of the frequency profiles show a remarkable gaussian symmetrical distribution as compared to the less significant assymmetry in either the ascending or the descending limb ( which appear as enhanced tail-like features ) of the corresponding gaussians. This, in consonance with their narrow emission bandwidth, endorses the view that, the source region for Type I bursts are in a state of extreme homogeneity, as regards their plasma density and temperature. The time profiles on the other hand show a greater level of asymmetry on either their ascending or descending segments; deviations from the gaussian fit, to each of the bursts' time profiles, reveal a higher incidence in abrupt rise or fall on either of the limbs, to cases where the profiles conform to a symmetric gaussian. Since the rise and decay in the time profiles correspond to growth of plasma instabilities and damping of the plasma waves, respectively, they portray a region of the turbulent corona that is replete with magnetic reconnections contributing to the energetics of plasma waves.

Les éphémérides planétaires jouent un rôle important pour la navigation des missions spatiales actuelles et la mise en place des missions futures ainsi que la réduction et l'analyse des observations astronomiques les plus précises. Les éphémérides planétaires actuelles (DE, INPOP, EPM)L'objectif de la thèse est d'utiliser des archives de données de missions spatiales passées et présentes et de fournir des outils d'analyse pour l'amélioration de l'éphéméride de données pour l'amélioration de l’éphéméride planétaire planétaire INPOP, ainsi que pour une meilleure utilisation des éphémérides pour effectuer des teste de la physique tels que la relativité générale, les études de la couronne solaire [...] / The planetary ephemerides play a crucial role for spacecraft navigation, mission planning, reductionand analysis of the most precise astronomical observations. The construction of suchephemerides is highly constrained by the tracking observations, in particular range, of the spaceprobes collected by the tracking stations on the Earth. The present planetary ephemerides (DE,INPOP, EPM) are mainly based on such observations. However, the data used by the planetaryephemerides are not the direct raw tracking data, but measurements deduced after the analysisof raw data made by the space agencies and the access to such processed measurements remainsdifficult in terms of availability.The goal of the thesis is to use archives of past and present space missions data independentlyfrom the space agencies, and to provide data analysis tools for the improvement of theplanetary ephemerides INPOP, as well as to use improved ephemerides to perform tests ofphysics such as general relativity, solar corona studies, etc.The first part of the study deals with the analysis of the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS)tracking data as an academic case for understanding. The CNES orbit determination softwareGINS was used for such analysis. The tracking observations containing one-, two-, and threewayDoppler and two-way range are then used to reconstruct MGS orbit precisely and obtainedresults are consistent with those published in the literature. As a supplementary exploitationof MGS, we derived the solar corona model and estimated the average electron density alongthe line of sight separately for slow and fast wind regions. Estimated electron densities arecomparable with the one found in the literature. Fitting the planetary ephemerides, includingadditional data which were corrected for the solar corona perturbations, noticeably improves theextrapolation capability of the planetary ephemerides and the estimation of the asteroid masses(Verma et al., 2013a).The second part of the thesis deals with the complete analysis of the MESSENGER trackingdata. This analysis improved the Mercury ephemeris up to two order of magnitude comparedto any latest ephemerides. Such high precision ephemeris, INPOP13a, is then used to performgeneral relativity tests of PPN-formalism.[...]

Although the cost of investment in power lines insulators is 3-5% of the total cost of the installation, the impact of their performance on reliability, failure costs, maintenance routines, etc in power systems is tens of times higher. Composite insulators were introduced 50 years ago and have been used around the world with consistently good experience. Low weight, easy handling, good performance under high pollution, low maintenance costs, and resistance to vandalism are some of their advantages. Nevertheless, acid rain, salty dust deposition, corona discharges, ozone, UV radiation, and humidity among other factors, deteriorate the quality of the polymeric housing reducing their hydrophobicity. The synergistic action of ageing factors is extremely complex and the whole degradation process may change when any one variable is slightly modified. Many studies have been carried out to increase understanding of the physicochemical processes which control the electrical and mechanical stability of polymers during in-service ageing with the objective of predicting remaining life-times. Vital areas of knowledge about polymer insulators are still incomplete and lacking; three of them are: (1) early stages of degradation in service under different environmental conditions, (2) monitoring and diagnosis techniques suitable for distribution installations and (3) steps to establish an insulators management plan based on condition and risk of failure. In this research these three topics are covered. A full review of literature about management of electrical distribution assets is included, followed by a specific plan developed for monitoring, diagnosis and ranking of insulators mainly supported by visual inspections. Diagnosis of medium voltages EPDM insulators recovered from service aged under different conditions is done using both traditional techniques and, uniquely, dielectric impedance. The relationship between surface roughness and static contact angle is also used to characterize insulators' surfaces. Early stages of degradation are studied focusing the experimental work to evaluate the electrohydrodynamic processes which occur on new samples under different conditions, giving special attention to leakage current pulse analysis, electric field enhancement, and resistance/capacitive behaviour including phase of leakage current. Results from each specific topic offer additional understanding of polymer insulators degradation providing insight to monitoring, diagnosis and management. Additionally, results open new topics in which new investigations are proposed.

Autor no autoriza el acceso a texto completo de su documento hasta el 6/1/2021. / Ingeniero Civil de Minas / Los métodos de explotación de block y panel caving son formas de explotación por hundimiento en que el cuerpo mineralizado se derrumba naturalmente por efecto de la gravedad y de los esfuerzos locales generados luego de haber sido socavado en su base. La propagación del caving es un efecto de la inestabilidad interna del macizo rocoso, producto de la constante extracción del mineral desde el punto de extracción hacia los puntos de vaciado. Actualmente, cada vez los yacimientos minerales se encuentran a mayores profundidades y la roca es sometida a mayores niveles de esfuerzos, tanto in-situ como inducidos por socavación o extracción. Esto implica que las minas tengan una mayor probabilidad de sufrir eventos geomecánicos que pongan en riesgo la vida de personas y al negocio. La mayor parte de la investigación llevada a cabo hasta la fecha ha sido enfocada en el esfuerzo inducido por la socavación mientras se propaga el hundimiento, conocido como abutment stress. Sin embargo, la experiencia en la operación de minas explotadas por block/panel caving ha demostrado que la estabilidad del nivel de producción también depende de la extracción y de las condiciones de flujo. El objetivo de esta investigación es cuantificar los esfuerzos inducidos por flujo gravitacional en un pilar corona del nivel de producción de una mina operada por block/panel caving, a través de experimentos en un modelo físico a escala (1:200). Con el fin de cumplir el objetivo propuesto, se llevaron a cabo 12 experimentos para representar configuraciones de block caving (BC) y panel caving (PC). En el caso de BC, se realizaron experimentos para determinar la influencia de puntos de extracción cerrados (60 m y 30 m de ancho de zona sin extracción), del tiraje uniforme y del tiraje no ideal. Dos experimentos de PC se realizaron para cuantificar la distribución de los esfuerzos verticales en el pilar de producción a medida que se incorpora área a la producción. Se utilizó mineral fragmentado para la realización de los experimentos. Por lo cual, es asumido que a escala de mina, el hundimiento ya se ha propagado hasta la superficie. Para medir los esfuerzos verticales inducidos por la extracción, seis celdas de carga fueron instaladas sobre el pilar corona del modelo físico. El material utilizado en los experimentos fue sulfuro de cobre chancado y escalado (1:200) a partir de una curva de fragmentación primaria típica de un BC. Los esfuerzos verticales inducidos fueron cuantificados en términos relativos de acuerdo al esfuerzo vertical inicial (previo a la extracción), σ0. En general, los experimentos indican que los esfuerzos verticales sobre el pilar corona cambian debido a la extracción. Esto significa que dependiendo de la secuencia de tiraje, los esfuerzos se distribuyen entre las zonas de movimiento y no activas alcanzando valores mínimos y máximos en un período dependiendo de qué punto de extracción está siendo explotado. Si una celda de carga está ubicada por encima de un punto de extracción que se está explotando, obtiene un valor mínimo cercano a 0.4σ0. Si una celda está por encima de un punto que no está siendo extraído comienza a aumentar su carga hasta valores tan altos como 2.8σ0. La magnitud de los esfuerzos verticales inducidos en un lugar determinado del pilar corona depende de varias variables que incluyen: Masa extraída por punto de extracción, tamaño del área no incorporada a la producción y distancia desde el sector de interés del pilar corona hasta el punto de extracción explotado.

Mot bakgrund av en kostsam välfärd och växande offentlig sektor implementeradeSverige New Public Management för att stävja kostnader och effektiviseravälfärden. I New Public Managements utbredning, 30 år senare, förefallerimplementeringen ha bidragit till en allt mer ohälsosam arbetsmiljö. Det socialaarbetet organiseras numera med hjälp av ständiga effektiviseringar, en tilltagandedokumentation och ett decentraliserat budgetansvar. Politiker har kritiseratmodellen då många välfärdsprofessioner insjuknar i miljön, och flera socialarbetareanvänder olika hanteringsstrategier för att hantera situationen. I dagsläget befinnersig det sociala arbetet i en ny situation på grund av ett globalt virusutbrott avCorona. Med pandemins omfattning följer också nya förutsättningar för det socialaarbetets praktik, där New Public Managements effektivitetsanspråk möjligtvis ståri motsättning till Folkhälsomyndighetens rekommendationer vad gäller reduktionenav smittspridning. Därmed är syftet med studien att undersöka vilken upplevelsesocialarbetare har av styrmekanismerna effektivitet, budget och dokumentation iden pågående Coronapandemin, samt vilka hanteringsstrategier enskildasocialarbetare använder när de navigerar i en miljö präglad av både New PublicManagement och pandemin. Datainsamlingen utgörs av åtta semi-struktureradeintervjuer, med socialarbetare inom Region Skåne och Socialtjänsten. Detempiriska materialet analyserades med hjälp av ett teoretiskt ramverk där helhetenutgörs av tre teorier; Gestaltpsykologi, Copingstrategier och den Naturligainställningen. Resultaten illustrerar att effektivitet, budget och dokumentation istora drag är lika styrande, dock förefaller inte styrmekanismerna upplevas avenskilda socialsekreterare på samma sätt som innan pandemin. Resultaten visarockså på en diskrepans mellan enskilda socialarbetares och ledningens upplevelseav effektivitet, budget och dokumentation, samt vad som blir viktigt under enpandemi. Resultaten visar också på att socialarbetare använder åtta olika typer avcopingstrategier i det praktiska arbetet. Slutligen, framgår tre lärdomar utifrånresultatet vad gäller: en organisatorisk oförberedelse inför pandemin, ett distanseratsocialt arbete och en trög byråkratisk omställning. / New public Management was implemented as a response to growing welfare andan expensive public sector. 30 years later, the spread of New Public Managementappears to have contributed to an increasingly unhealthy working environment.Social work is now characterized with a big emphasis on continual efficiencyprojects, a growing burden of documentation and a decentralized budgetaryresponsibility due to this. Furthermore, numerous politicians have criticised themodel and many welfare professions become ill in this context. Therefore, socialworkers are using different coping strategies to cope with the organizationalsituations. Today the social work in Sweden is in a new situation due to the globalpandemic that came with the spread of the Coronavirus. This may affect how socialworkers experience and cope with New Public Managements focus on constantefficiency actions because there might be opposition between this andFolkhälsomyndighetens recommendation of curbing the spread of the Coronavirus.Therefore, the purpose of this thesis is to study social workers experience ofefficiency, budget, documentation and which coping strategies social workers useto cope in a new context characterized by both New Public Management and apandemic. This study addresses the research problem with a qualitative method,more specifically, with help of semi-structured interviews. Eight interviews wereconducted with social workers within Region Skåne and Socialtjänsten. Empiricaldata is analysed with a holistic approach consisting of three theories: Gestaltpsychology, Coping strategies, and Natural Attitude. The results show thatefficiency, budget, and documentation govern to a certain extent, however, theyappear to be less important and meaningful to the individual social worker as beforethe pandemic. The results also show a discrepancy between individual socialworkers and management's views on efficiency, budget, documentation, and whatbecomes important to social work in a pandemic. The result also shows that socialworkers use eight different coping strategies in the practical sphere within thepandemic. Finally, there are three takeaways from the result, pertaining to: anunprepared organisation in relation to the pandemic, a distanced social work, and asluggish bureaucratic readjustment.

The aim of this paper is to examine how Swedish newspaper articles portrayed domestic violence during the corona pandemic and to identify the risks of increased domestic violence depicted in the media. The study is based on the qualitative content analysis of 32 newspaper articles published between March 11th and April 15th 2020. Social constructivism theory, intersectional theory and framing theory were used in order to gain a deeper understanding of the results. The victims were in most articles described as women or women and children. The perpetrator of violence was referred to in half of the articles as male and in half just as the perpetrator. The articles were mainly described from a women's aid framework. Three central themes explaining the risks of increased violence were identified; isolation, a strained position for social resources and financial stress and anxiety.