Concrete-Filled Steel Tubular (CFST) columns are increasingly being used because of their many advantages, including high strength, high ductility, and higher fire resistance than conventional steel or concrete columns of the same size. In order to maximise the advantages of CFST column, composite action of the column should be ensured. In realistic structures, the load is not directly applied to the entire CFST column section and is introduced from the beam-column connection. Simple shear connections, which are usually preferred in constructions, are only connected to the external face of the steel tube and there is an issue about how this load is introduced to the concrete core, through the bond at the steel/concrete interface. There are fundamental errors in the load introduction mechanism assumed in various current design methods. Furthermore, based on this erroneous load introduction mechanism, construction methods, such as placing shear connectors inside the steel tube or using through-column plates, are recommended to ensure complete load introduction. However, these methods are either impractical or uneconomical. The aim of this project, therefore, is to develop a thorough understanding of the load introduction mechanism and to use the new insights to assess design implications, for both ambient temperature and fire safety design. The research has been conducted through physical testing, extensive numerical modelling and detailed analytical derivations. A series of new load introduction tests, in which square CFST columns are loaded through simple fin plate connections, are carried out. These tests are designed to investigate the effects of changing column lengths below and above the connection, the effectiveness of using shear connectors inside the steel tube below the connection (according to Eurocode 4) and using a cap plate on the column top for load introduction into the concrete core. The test results indicate that the connection load is introduced to the concrete core through the column length above and within the connection or the cap plate on top of the column. This is different from the currently assumed mechanism of load introduction which assumes that load introduction occurs from underneath the connection. Below the connection, there is transfer of forces from the steel tube to the concrete core, but the total force in the column remains unchanged. Consequently, using shear connectors below the connection is ineffective in increasing CFST column strength, as has been demonstrated by the tests. The physical tests are supplemented by an extensive numerical parametric study to check whether the conclusions are applicable to different design conditions and to provide data for development of a new design method. The parameters include: section geometry (square, circular, and rectangular), position of load application to CFST column, dimensions of the square column cross-section, steel tube thickness, connection length, column length above the connection, column length below the connection, and maximum bond stress at the steel-concrete interface. The numerical simulation results confirm the experimental observations. Furthermore, the numerical simulation results indicate that the entire column length and the entire perimeter of the steel-concrete interface above and within the connection are engaged in load introduction. Based on the experimental and numerical simulation results, a simple calculation method has been proposed to calculate the column cross-section resistance under compression. According to this equation, the concrete compression resistance to the composite column is the minimum of the plastic resistance or the bond strength within and above the connection. This gives rise to a “concrete strength reduction factor” to account for incomplete load introduction, being the ratio of the load introduced to the concrete core through the interface bond to the concrete plastic resistance. Based on the new load introduction calculation method and using representative values of column dimensions and concrete cylinder strength, it has been demonstrated that complete load introduction can be achieved in almost all practical arrangements of concrete-filled tubular construction. For slender CFST column design, this concrete strength reduction factor should also be used to calculate the CFST column cross-section flexural stiffness. For a CFST column under combined axial compression and bending, the concrete strength reduction factor should be used when calculating the compression force, but should be ignored when calculating the bending resistance because composite action is not necessary for bending of the CFST column. The new load introduction mechanism induces additional compression in the concrete core and possible tension in the steel tube above the connection. Therefore, the concrete core of the column above the connection in multi-storey construction should be designed to resist the additional compression force. For the steel tube, in ambient temperature design, the steel contribution ratio (steel section resistance/plastic resistance of composite cross-section) of the top floor column should be at least 0.25. For fire resistance design, the steel contribution ratio of the top floor columns, those on the floor below the top floor, and those two floors below the top floor, should not be less than 0.5, 0.33, and 0.25 respectively.

Business activity and financial reporting affect many different stakeholders but also society as a whole. Securing financial information is essential for a functioning economic landscape. In the EU, most countries require listed companies to report according to IFRS. Unlisted companies' financial reporting is not as tightly regulated. Previous research that studies unlisted companies has focused primarily on macroeconomic factors affecting countries and companies that voluntarily apply IFRS. The purpose of this study is to investigate which factors influence larger unlisted Swedish companies in considering voluntarily use IFRS instead of the K3 regulations.   The study uses a quantitative research strategy and tests hypotheses that are formulated regarding the factors "size", "industry" and "business area". The influence of these factors has been highlighted by previous research as relevant for unlisted companies to explain the choice of accounting rules are used by these companies. A desk survey was conducted in which the companies' annual reports were reviewed to obtain the necessary information. Subsequently, the sample was divided into two groups, (15) K3 companies and (15) IFRS companies. These companies were selected from a total of 875 companies that were reviewed.   The results of this study show that there is a certain statistical correlation between the factors "size" and "area of ​​operation" and the accounting rules used by the companies. The size of the company and the nature of its market (national or international) do seem to affect which accounting rules they use. However, we were unable to demonstrate any connection between industry and the accounting rules used by the companies / Företagsverksamhet och finansiell rapportering är något som påverkar många olika parter men även samhället i stort. Säkerställandet av finansiell information är nödvändigt för att ha ett fungerande ekonomiskt landskap. I EU kräver de flesta länder att börsnoterade företag ska redovisa enligt IFRS. Onoterade företags finansiella rapportering är inte lika hårt reglerad som den för noterade företag. Tidigare forskning om onoterade företag har studerat framförallt vilka makroekonomiska faktorer som påverkar länder och företag att frivilligt applicera IFRS. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka vilka faktorer som påverkar större onoterade svenska företag att frivilligt använda IFRS istället för K3-regelverket.   Studien tillämpar en kvantitativ forskningsstrategi och testar hypoteser som är formulerade kring faktorerna “storlek”, “bransch” och “verksamhetsområde”. Dessa faktorers påverkan har av tidigare forskning belysts som relevant för att förklara onoterade företags val redovisningsregelverk. En skrivbordsundersökning genomfördes där företagens årsredovisningar granskades för att få fram den nödvändiga informationen. Därefter delades urvalet in i två grupper, (15) K3 företag och (15) IFRS företag. Urvalet består av 30 företag och totalt granskades 875 företag för att få fram detta urval.   Resultaten av denna studie påvisar att det finns statistiskt säkerställda samband mellan faktorerna ”storlek” och ”verksamhetsområde” och vilket redovisningsregelverk som företagen använder. Det innebär att storleken på företagen och om de är verksamma internationellt, påverkar vilket redovisningsregelverk som de använder. Däremot kunde vi inte påvisa något samband mellan faktorn ”bransch” och vilket redovisningsregelverk som företagen använder.

Bakgrund: Det råder en global brist på barnmorskor vilket kan innebära ett hot för såväl födande kvinnors hälsa som den globala folkhälsan. Inom förlossningsvården har barnmorskan kompetens att självständigt handlägga normal förlossning. Bristen på barnmorskor inom den svenska förlossningsvården spås öka till följd av ett flertal olika faktorer däribland omfattande pensionsavgångar samt rekryteringsutmaningar. Mer forskning behövs kring faktorer som främjar en attraktiv och hållbar arbetsmiljö. Studiens syfte var att undersöka nyutexaminerade barnmorskors erfarenheter av att arbeta på förlossningsavdelning. Metod: Genom ett bekvämlighetsurval rekryterades tio nyutexaminerade barnmorskor till studien. Digitala intervjuer genomfördes baserade på en semistrukturerad intervjuguide. Intervjuerna transkriberades och datamaterialet låg till grund för en fenomenografisk analys. Resultat: Organisation och ledarskap har betydelse för en trygg start i yrkeslivet, känslan av delaktighet och en hanterbar arbetsbelastning. En tillåtande och stödjande miljö med möjlighet att vara ny är viktigt för trygghet och utveckling i yrkesrollen. Barnmorskorna växer in i en ny yrkesroll som uppges ge och ta energi. Konklusion: Nyutexaminerade barnmorskor behöver ges förutsättningar för att växa in i den nya yrkesrollen. Om förutsättningarna förbättras kan det bidra till möjligheten för barnmorskorna att fortsätta bistå förlossningar samt känna trygghet, glädje och yrkesstolthet, således en betydande del i att säkra framtidens förlossningsvård. / Background: There is a global shortage of midwives which can pose a threat to the health of women giving birth and the global public health in general. In maternity care the midwife has the competence to independently manage normal childbirth. The shortage of midwives within Swedish maternity care is predicted to increase as a result of multiple factors including extensive retirements and difficulties in recruitment. More research regarding factors that promote an attractive and sustainable work environment is needed. The aim of this study was to investigate newly graduated midwives' experiences of working in a maternity ward. Method: Through a convenience sample, ten midwives were recruited, and semi-structured interviews were conducted digitally. The data was analyzed with a phenomenographic approach. Result: Organization and leadership is important for a secure start into professional life as well as a sense of participation and manageable workload. A permissive and supportive environment is essential for safety and development in the professional role. The work in a maternity ward claims to give and take energy. Conclusion: Newly graduated midwives need to be given the proper conditions in order to develop within their profession. Improved conditions can enable the midwives continuing to assist childbirth with a sense of security, happiness and pride. Important aspects in securing future maternity care.

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