Atrial fibrillation is a cardiac condition in which the heart rate is abnormally fast and/or irregular. While not yet proven to be fatal on its own, it severely increases the probability of developing further medical conditions including a five times higher risk of getting stroke. The prevalence has, over the past decades, increased significantly across the world and was in 2014 approximated at roughly 2% in the European population. Though, this number is expected to further increase in the coming years and decades. Therefore, in order to reduce suffering and save lives, it is vital that there is an efficient way of treating this condition. Current treatment methods include medicine, cardioversion, and tissue ablation. This thesis focuses on tissue ablation, more particularly cryoballoon ablation, which is a minimally invasive procedure in which a cryoballoon catheter is guided through a blood vessel (generally accessed through an incision made in the groin area) to the heart. When inside the atrial chambers the balloon can be inflated, put into contact with the faulty tissue and then be injected with liquid nitrous oxide which vaporizes and freezes said tissue isolating the currents causing the irregular heartbeat. This thesis aims to attach flexible electronics to the outside of the cryoballoon, which should then be able to inform the operator that adequate contact has been achieved before freezing, thereby increasing the probability of successful ablation. Three prototypes were created using polyurethane balloons, flexible circuit boards and a biocompatible, flexible cyanoacrylate adhesive. The flexible circuit boards were arranged in different patterns for each prototype to see which configuration would best suit the application. It was found that narrow strips (single trace) aligned axially and spaced evenly along the circumference best accomplished the goal. The traces did, however, not adhere as well to the balloon as was hoped which likely was due to user error during the gluing procedure but a further investigation may be desired to ensure that the materials and adhesive are compatible. / Förmaksflimmer är ett hjärtfel som gör att hjärtslagen blir ovanligt snabba och/eller oregelbundna. Trots att det inte bevisats vara direkt dödligt än, ökar det kraftigt risken för att utveckla ytterligare medicinska besvär, bland annat fem gånger större risk att drabbas av stroke. Utbredningen av förmaksflimmer har under de senaste decennierna ökat avsevärt över hela världen och under 2014 uppskattades det att ungefär 2 % av den europeiska befolkning var drabbade. Den här siffran förväntas dock fortsätta öka under de kommande åren och decennierna. Därför, för att i största mån lindra smärta samt förhindra dödsfall, är det mycket viktigt att det finns ett effektivt sätt att behandla tillståndet. I nuläget innefattas behandling av medicin, elektrokonvertering eller vävnadsablation. Det här examensarbetet fokuserar på ablation, närmare bestämt kryoballongsablation, vilket är ett minimalinvasivt ingrepp som innebär att en kryoballongskateter förs in genom en blodådra (ofta via ett snitt i ljumsken) in i hjärtat. Väl inne i förmakskammarna kan ballongen blåsas upp, läggas emot den felaktiga vävnaden och sedan fyllas med flytande kväveoxid som förångas och fryser vävnaden vilket isolerar strömmarna som ger upphov till den felaktiga hjärtrytmen. Målet med det här examensarbetet är att fästa flexibla kretskort på utsidan av dessa kryoballonger, vilka då ska kunna känna av fysisk kontakt med vävnaden och informera operatören om detta innan frysningen sker. Därmed bör sannolikheten för lyckad ablation öka. Tre prototyper tillverkades med polyuretanballonger, flexibla kretskort och ett biokompatibelt, flexibelt cyanoakrylatlim. Kretskorten arrangerades i olika mönster för respektive prototyper för att undersöka vilken konfiguration som skulle passa ändamålet bäst. Det visade sig att smala kretskort placerade längs med ballongen axiellt och jämnt utspridda längs med omkretsen gav bäst resultat. Däremot höll inte limmet så bra som förväntat vilket troligtvis handlar om användarfel vid limningen men en vidare utredning kan vara att önska för att säkerställa att limmet är kompatibelt med övriga material.

Modern conflicts once again move towards interstate wars that requires extensive logistical capabilities that enables offensive military operations with conventional forces. As force composition and technical systems becomes more complex, logistical flexibility becomes an attribute necessary to supply high tempo campaigns. The study conducts a comparative case study that investigates the logistical flexibility’s effect on logistical vacuum in past operations. The result display that logistical flexibility is an important factor for successfully supplying offensive military operations at the operational level and the mitigation of the logistic vacuum. The study combines and evaluates logistical factors on the macro and micro level to measure the logistical vacuum present and how it occurs in some cases and is avoided in others. The work contributes to the knowledge of logistical flexibility and how it could affect future force structure and appearance of logistics.

Detta examensarbete är en studie i hur man kan utforma ett flexibelt klassrum med fokus på att underlätta och förändra arbetssättet för pedagoger och inlärningsmiljön för studenter. Syftet är att förbättra klassrumsmiljön, detta för att skapa ett klassrum som är välkomnande och utformad för att förbättra kommunikationen mellan pedagoger och studenter. Arbetet har utgått från CFF (Centrum för flerspråkigheter), en mottagnings- och utbildningsenhet på Brinellskolan i Fagersta för personer mellan 16 och 65 år som har till syfte att lära sig svenska. CFF lokaler är i nuläget inte anpassat för den undervisning som bedrivs där. CFF har ett behov av att anpassa klassrummens fysiska element såsom förvaring, ljudabsorbenter, whiteboardtavla och projektor. Eftersom CFF inte använder sig av hemklassrum blir det viktigt att klassrummet är utformat efter skolans aktiviteter och användare. Studien har baserats på teorier kring undervisningsprocesser, form och funktion, ljud, färg, ljus och gestaltslagar. Metoder som har tillämpats är rumsanalys, intervjuer och utvärderingsintervjuer. Utifrån detta har ett gestaltningsförslag utformats. Målsättningen med gestaltningsförslaget har varit att skapa ett flexibelt, funktionellt, estetiskt och tilltalande klassrum som är anpassade efter klassrummets olika aktiviteter. Denna studie är avsedd till att vara intressant för pedagoger, designers eller forskare inom design och pedagogik. / This thesis is a study in how to design a flexible classroom environment with a focus on facilitating and supporting teachers’ and students’ working and learning. The goal is to design a classroom environment that is welcoming while also designed to improve communication between teachers and students. The work is based on the Centre for Multilingualism, an education unit that is a part of Brinellskolan in Fagersta for people between 16 and 65 years who intend to learn the Swedish language and culture. The Centre for Multilingualism’s facilities are currently not well suited to the education that is provided there. The classroom at the centre needs to be better adapted, particularly with regards to physical elements such as storage and acoustics, and display elements such as whiteboards and projectors. At the Centre for Multilingualism the students do not have their own classroom or home-room, so it is important that the classroom they use is flexible and is designed to accommodate many different activities and users at different times. This study is based on theories of spatial design such as form, function, acoustics, colouring and lighting, it also includes some cognitive theories of design. The methods that have been applied in this thesis are spatial analysis, interviews and reference objects. Based on the results of these applied theories and methods a design proposal has been created. The goal of the design proposal was to create design for a flexible, functional, and aesthetically pleasing classroom adaptable to suit a variety of educational activities and also different teachers and students with differing needs. This study is intended to be of interest to educators, designers or researchers in design and teaching methods.

In the present electrical market there is an increasing penetration of intermittent energy sources. Several studies have examined its effect on the planning of hydropower operation and the conclusion is that an increasing intermittent production is likely to result in a more variable hydropower operation, utilising a wider span of operational set points. The wear of a hydropower unit is generally at a minimum when operated close to best efficiency and increases when operating at higher or lower set points. This study introduces a method to calculate an operation dependent cost (ODC) function for an arbitrary hydropower unit or unit combination based on vibration measurements and operational data. The method is tested in a case study where an ODC is implemented in Akkats, located in the Small Lule River in order to evaluate its effect on operational pattern, profitability and balancing contribution. The results show that the implemented ODC mainly affects Akkats. For an increasing ODC, Akkats is operated closer to the best point of efficiency and the operational pattern gets less variable and the effect gets more apparent the lower the spot price. Akkats ability to follow the spot price is reduced, decreasing the earning per produced energy with a few percent­ages. Akkats balancing contribution decreases significantly more, due to a less variable operational pattern. The study compares the reduced ODC to the reduced spot income and concludes that the wear cost in Akkats has to be above 1,21 €/MWh in order to be economically feasible to include in the planning. The operational pattern for the simulated river is close to unchanged at highest price hours but during lower price hours an increasing ODC results in an increased production, due to an increasing mean flow and changed operational pattern in Akkats. More production during low prices hours results in a decreasing profitability for all plants along the river. The balancing contribution is close to unchanged in all plants except Akkats, since the production still follows the same pattern.

Syftet med studien var att försöka förstå faktorerna och motiven bakom kommunernas övergång från cellkontor till aktivitetsbaserade kontorslösningar. För att se vad som har påverkat beslutet om övergången och för att se hur kommunerna har gått till väga under processen mot införandet av den nya kontorsformen. / The purpose of the study was to create an understanding of the factors and motives behind the municipal transition from cellular offices to an activity based workplace. To see what influenced the decision about the transition and to see how the municipalities proceeded in the process of the new form of office.

The project presented in this report was conducted by Hans Iverlund and was the final thesis of the Study programme in innovation and design engineering at Karlstad University. The project included 22,5 ECTS credits. Parts of the project were carried out in collaboration with Robin Westlund, who also did his final thesis of the Study programme in innovation and design engineering. The project was conducted in collaboration with Moelven Eurowand AB, which is a company that manufactures, sells and installs room solutions consisting of wall systems, door portals and some furniture, mainly for offices. Supervisor from Moelven Eurowand AB was Pernilla Irewährn, tutor from Karlstad University was Monica Jakobsson and examiner for the project was Professor Fredrik Thuvander. Moelven Eurowand AB wished to get better insight for how the future office would look and operate, so that they could develop their future products in the right direction. To gain that insight, the project began with extensive research, consisting of literature studies, field studies and interviews with people that work in offices. Parameters that were identified as important for the future of office were the ability of control over the surroundings and the need for acoustical and visual privacy and social interaction with other people. This resulted in a vision for the future that was visualized with a continuously variable dimmer switch that controls the acoustic environment and the visual interaction with other people in the area in which the individual office employee is located. The dimmer switch became the aim for the development of a product that would fit into this vision for the future. The product development was carried out using a list of demands, idea generation and a systematic generation of concepts. The product that was developed was called Summit Flexiwall, and was a flexible panel-wall solution that enabled control of the acoustic environment and the amount of social interaction. The product may serve several different functions in an office environment. / Projektet som presenteras i denna rapport genomfördes av Hans Iverlund och var ett examensarbete på Högskoleingenjörsprogrammet i innovationsteknik och design vid Karlstads universitet. Examensarbetet omfattade 22,5 högskolepoäng. Delar av projektet genomfördes tillsammans med Robin Westlund som även han gjorde examensarbete på högskoleingenjörsprogrammet i innovationsteknik och design. Projektet genomfördes i samarbete med företaget Moelven Eurowand AB som tillverkar, säljer och monterar rumslösningar i form av systemväggar, dörrportaler och viss inredning, till framförallt kontorslokaler. Handledare från Moelven Eurowand AB var Pernilla Irewährn, handledare från Karlstads universitet var Monica Jakobsson och examinator var professor Fredrik Thuvander. Moelven Eurowand AB önskade få bättre insikt i hur framtidens kontor kommer se ut och fungera, för att kunna anpassa sitt produktsortiment. Projektet inleddes med en omfattande research bestående av litteraturstudier, studiebesök och intervjuer med kontorsanställda, för att på så vis skaffa den insikten. Faktorer som identifierades som viktiga för framtidens kontor var möjligheten till kontroll av sin omgivning och behovet av enskildhet och samhörighet. Detta resulterade i en framtidsvision, i form av en steglös dimmer som styr den akustiska miljön och den visuella interaktionen med andra människor, på den plats som den enskilde kontorsarbetaren befinner sig. Resultatet av detta blev sedan målbilden för utvecklingen av en produkt som skulle passa in i denna framtidsvision. Produktutvecklingen genomfördes med hjälp av en kravspecifikation, idégenereringar och en systematisk konceptgenerering. Produkten som utvecklades kom att kallas Summit Flexiwall, och var en flexibel panelväggslösning som möjliggör kontroll av den akustiska närmiljön samt valfrihet när det gäller enskildhet och samhörighet. Produkten kan fylla flera olika funktioner i en kontorsmiljö.

Undersökningen har bearbetat förväntningar och förbättringar på planlösningar i flerbostadshus. Enkätundersökning bland allmänheten och de boende i Vikaholm, Växjö, samt intervjuer med arkitekter användes för att få synpunkter på förbättringar. Även intervjuer med de boende utfördes för att få mer utvecklande och motiverande svar än enbart från enkätundersökningen. Framtagning och utformning av planlösning har utformats efter de önskemål och synpunkter som framkommit i undersökningen. Planlösningarna är yteffektiva och är utformade med hänsyn till bland annat omätbara värden som finns i en bostad, det vill säga rumsliga kvalitéer som är mindre uppenbara och svåra att kvantifiera. Olika punkter som bekvämlighet, bättre möblerbarhet och mer förvaringsmöjlighet har gjort att bostaden har fått en annan utformning än de ursprungliga planlösningarna. Flexibla och generella rum som följer krav vid utformning och som inte har onödiga ytor har varit målet med arbetet. Arbetets resultat kan användas till andra framtida planlösningar än till det flerbostadshus som legat som grund för detta examensarbete. / The survey has processed expectations and improvements on floor plans in a multi-family house. A survey by the public and residents in Vikaholm, Växjö, and interviews with experts were made to get views of improvements. Also interviews with residents were also made to get more developing and motivational answers than just from the opinion poll. The design and layout of the planning has been designed according to the desires and views expressed in the survey. The plan solutions are highly space-efficient and are designed with regard to, inter alia, intangible values that exist in a dwelling, which is spatial qualities that are less obvious and difficult to quantify. Different items such as comfort, better furnishing and more storage have made the accommodation a different design than the original floor plans. Flexible and general spaces that meet design requirements and have no unnecessary surfaces have been the aim of the work. The results of the work can be used for other future floor plans than for the multi-family house that has been the basis for this degree project.

The purpose of this thesis is to simulate different scenarios where all vehicles are replaced by electric vehicles in the future.   An addition of electric vehicles to the electric grid is not easy to handle, especially not if the consumers choose to charge their vehicles with higher power. As can be seen in the results of this report, flexible demand through power management is a good option to reduce overall power consumption. Of course, customers will have to agree to that their consumption is controlled in this manner.   Using solar cells during the summer works well, but it’s harder wintertime as the largest electric demands arise during the night, when there is close to no sunlight. However, in the case of batteries, they may be helpful. Possibly by letting the solar cells charge the battery during the day and then use it to help charge the electric vehicle during the night. Unfortunately, it was not possible to include this scenario as the used software was unable to handle batteries in that way.   By completely replacing the heat source, in this case with district heating, and thus releasing available power in the transformer, turned out to be the best option. In this way, virtually all predicted amounts of electric cars could be charged with optional charging strength between 3.7 and 11 kW.   As for the T422 transformer, there is no choice but to replace it if a larger number of electric vehicles wants to start charging there. At present, it can handle a maximum of 10-20 electric vehicles that charge at the lowest power as there is only about 50 kW available there winter time. District heating cannot be applied either as the connected customers do not use electric heating. / Detta arbete har till syfte att simulera olika scenarier i ett område där samtliga fordon ersätts av elbilar i framtiden.   En tillkomst av elbilar i elnätet är inte lätt att hantera, speciellt inte om kunderna i nätet väljer att ladda med högre effekt. Vilket kan ses i resultatet i denna rapport, är flexibel förbrukning genom effektstyrning ett bra alternativ för att sänka den totala effektförbrukningen. Fast det gäller då givetvis att kunderna går med på att förbrukningen styrs på detta sätt.   Att använda solceller fungerar bra sommartid, men vintertid är det värre, då det största elbehovet uppstår på natten, när det inte är lika stor solljustillgång. I samband med batterier kan de dock vara till hjälp. Möjligen genom att låta solcellerna ladda upp batteriet under dagen och sedan använda det för att hjälpa till att ladda elbilen under natten. Dessvärre var det inte möjligt att simulera detta scenario på grund av brister i mjukvaran som användes.   Att helt ersätta värmekällan, i detta fall med fjärrvärme, och därmed frigöra effekt i transformatorn visade sig däremot vara det bästa alternativet. På så sätt kunde i stort sett samtliga mängder elbilar laddas med valfri laddningsstyrka mellan 3,7 och 11 kW.   Vad gäller transformator T422, ses inget annat val än att byta ut den om ett flertal elbilar ska börja ladda där. I nuläget klarar den av högst 10-20 elbilar som laddar på lägsta effekt eftersom det endast finns ca 50 kV tillgängligt vintertid. Fjärrvärme kan inte användas där heller som komplement då de tillkopplade kunderna inte använder elektrisk uppvärmning.

Sweden is experiencing a national housing shortage. The housing market has created a financial inequality between generations and as a result, homeownership has become unachievable for many. Citizens who have become tired of the situation have found their solution in the mobile dwelling. With the main motivation of freedom this thesis examines the role of the mobile dwelling and those who strive for mobile lifestyles, while discussing whether it is a viable way of living as it is constantly challenged.   The focus has been on investigating the challenges of living mobile, as the dwelling does not address the broader challenge of long-term financial security. Also, as the long-term residency is constantly challenged by its location through legislation it contributes to the already vulnerable situation.   The project concentrates on mobile living on water in the context of Stockholm, where I argue that its water as an asset has not yet been fully explored. The covered case studies have demonstrated the challenges of long-term residency for mobile dwellers have been overcome through different steps of actions, which in turn has contributed to the freedom of mobility.   This project proposes that in keeping the benefits of mobile living and re-imagining a framework, mobile residents using their own assets and know-how, can through a collective action become developers themselves. Focus is given to the achievement of long-term financial and residential security and as a result, the mobile dwelling becomes more than a temporary solution.

Employers’ responsibility of the health and safety on the environment for the employee who is teleworking is one of the questions in this essay. What is teleworking, in relation to the aim for this essay, is the second question. Teleworking is an employment which is growing and the Swedish legislation is vague. The methods which have been used to investigate and understand the legislation is jurisprudence method and the legal dogmatic method. After the investigation of the aim and question of this essay it is possible to say, the Employers always have the responsibility for the environment of employees’ health and safety. But teleworking makes it hard for the employer to verify the health and safety on the environment, when they do not know where the employer is working.