Global warming exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels will very likely lead to unavoidable increases of several climate hazards in the coming decades. Climate change phenomena can increase the risk of several extreme weather events, leading to risks of what is commonly considered as natural hazards, for instance landslides and forest fires. These chains or networks of events are termed natural multi-hazards or compound natural events, referring to a primary event or a driver that directly triggers or increases the probability of one or more secondary events by changing the environment. The very likely increase of single and compound natural hazards due to climate change require increased attention since it may imply new challenges to emergency response systems and new threats to society. Especially, how emergency response systems can prepare for and respond to these hazards by using knowledge of the interactions between different natural events.    The purpose of this thesis is to increase the knowledge on interactions between natural hazards, investigate how multiple natural hazards lead to challenges for emergency response systems, and how these challenges can be addressed. The purpose can be further divided into three objectives: (i) to identify relevant multiple natural hazards in a Swedish context, (ii) to identify planning and decision-making challenges these hazards may imply for emergency response systems, and (iii) to develop a decision support tool addressing one of these challenges.   The objectives have been addressed in three sub-studies, one for each of the objectives, leading to the production of four papers. The first sub-study focused on the first objective and resulted in the construction of a national natural hazard interaction framework for Sweden, which is presented in Paper 1. The second sub-study focused on the second objective, leading to the identification of needs for information, planning, and decision support systems in the Swedish emergency response system. The results from this study are presented in Paper 2 and 3. The third and last sub-study focused on the development of a decision support tool addressing one of the needs identified in the second sub-study. The sub-study led to the development of an optimization model for resource preparedness location planning, presented in Paper 4.   This thesis contributes to the emergency management field, both scientifically and practically. The scientific contributions are the development of a national natural hazard interactions framework and a resource preparedness location model for wildfires, both filling gaps in the current knowledge. Also, the thesis contributes scientifically through the alternative applications of theory, which can inform the research community in future studies. The natural hazard interaction framework and the resource preparedness location model for wildfires are also considered practical contributions. The former can support the extension of regional and local risk and vulnerability analyses to also include multiple natural hazards, while the latter sheds light on the potential of optimization-based decision support tools to increase preparedness to natural hazards. / <p><strong>Funding agencies:</strong> Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, and FORMAS, a Swedish research council for sustainable development.</p>

I Sverige renas totalt cirka 1,5 miljarder m3 avloppsvatten per år. Reningsverken i Sverige ärväldigt bra på att rena avloppsvatten, globalt sett är de bäst i världen på att exempelvis rena fos-for från avloppsvattnet. Rening av avloppsvatten är otroligt viktigt och om detta inte genomförspå ett effektivt sätt kan konsekvenser uppkomma såsom övergödning, smitta m.m. Ett exempelär Sverige under 1900-talet då allt avloppsvatten släpptes ut till recipienter utan att renas. Medtiden fick detta konsekvenser på sjöar och kustområden runt om i landet vilket skapade storamiljöproblem. Tyvärr är reningsverken i dagsläget väldigt linjära. Dagens VA-system är beroendeav vatten som transportmedium, vilket bidrar till att mycket vatten går till spillo. Dessutom ärdagens reningsverk relativ dåliga på att återföra exempelvis näringsämnen till jorbruket. Däravbehövs mer innovativa lösningar som kan ta tillvara på näringsämnena samt minska användningenav vatten. Harvest Moon är ett företag som jobbar just med nya och innovativa källsorterandeVA-lösningar. De vill undersöka hur stor påverkan decentraliserade lösningar kan ha på samhälletsamt veta mer om vilka fördelar och nackdelar som kan finnas med olika källsorterande VA-system. Syftet med studien var att undersöka olika källsorterande VA-reningstekniker som finns tillgäng-liga i marknaden just nu och jämföra de mot varandra utifrån ett helhetsperspektiv. Urinhante-ringsmetoder jämfördes mot varandra och fekaliehanteringsmetoder mot varandra. Tekniker somundersöktes var fekalietorkning vid två olika temperaturer, urinlagring samt urinevaporation. Tek-nikerna sattes in i verklighetsbaserade system. För att få en mer realistisk bild användes Södrastaden i Uppsala som ett scenario för att implementera de olika systemen. En multikriterieanalysimplementerades för att undersöka de olika teknikerna utifrån olika samhällskrav och kriterier.Exempelvis utsläpp av växthusgaser, övergödningspotential, vattenanvändning m.m. Resultatetvisade på att fekalietorkning är en teknik som har goda egenskaper samt stor potential utifrån deundersökta kraven, dock är tekniken inte lika etablerad som kompostering och studien visade ävenatt acceptansen kring det undersökta systemet med fekalietorkning är bristande. För urintekniker-na var systemet med urinlagring bäst utifrån undersökta krav. Anledningen till det var främst atturinevaporation kräver mer material, högre elförbrukning samt att urinlagring är en mer etableradteknik. Dock visade studien att decentraliserade urin tekniker har en högre acceptans jämfört medfekalier tekniker vilket gör att urin evaporation har stora potentialer om vissa specifika åtgärderimplementeras.

<p> Accurate face recognition plays a critical role in developing and maintaining social relationships. Typically developing adults show expertise when processing faces, demonstrated by their ability to recognize new faces even after a single exposure. Furthermore, face recognition is superior for highly familiar faces associated with rich semantic information. Although semantic processes mediate familiar face recognition, it is unclear what processes mediate unfamiliar face recognition. The main objective of my thesis was to identify unique neural mechanisms underlying familiar versus unfamiliar face recognition and to detail how these mechanisms change as a result of learning. I used event-related potentials (ERPs) to assess the stages of face processing affected by familiarity.</p> <p> In Chapter 1, I reviewed the literature contrasting familiar and unfamiliar face recognition processes from cognitive and neural perspectives.</p> <p> In Chapter 2, I identified processes involved in unfamiliar face recognition by recording ERPs to repeated presentations of unfamiliar faces in upright and inverted orientations. Inverted faces portray the same structural information as upright faces but with novel orientation that disrupts identity processing. Repeated exposure to an upright face (and not an inverted face) produced repetition priming at an early perceptual stage reflected by the N170 component, suggesting that unfamiliar face recognition is mediated by early perceptual representation.</p> <p> In Chapter 3, I directly tested whether semantic information modifies early perceptual face processing. I recorded ERPs to new faces that were learned over a five-day session with either person-specific or irrelevant information. N170 repetition priming was observed for all faces except those learned with person-specific information, suggesting that relevant semantic information, and not merely perceptual experience, changes early perceptual face processing.</p> <p> In Chapter 4, I assessed the relationship between N170 and N400 recognition processes. Specifically, I examined whether top-down semantic processes reflected by the N400 modulate early identity processes reflected by the N170. I constructed composite faces by combining facial features from different famous individuals; the facial features conveyed incongruous identity information so that when the face was processed as a whole it was perceived to be novel. Both familiar faces and composite faces failed to elicit N170 repetition priming but did elicit a similar N400 response, suggesting that familiar face recognition can be achieved with very little facial information. Moreover, these results suggest that the retrieval of semantically relevant information during familiar face recognition occurs even in the presence of incongruous perceptual information and that such processing modulates early perceptual processes.</p> <p> Together, these results demonstrate the interplay between memory and perception (which I summarize and discuss in Chapter 5), revealing different mechanisms of face recognition as a function of person-specific information. Unfamiliar face recognition takes place at the perceptual stage reflected by the N170 and is revealed through repetition priming. As an unfamiliar face becomes well known, its recognition processes shift to a later semantic stage reflected by the N400 and such semantic processes seem to modulate early perceptual processes. This knowledge has advanced our understanding of face processing at cognitive and neural levels.</p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This study’s aim was to investigate the decision-making process of consumers when purchasing seafood, with a specific focus on the role of the Marine Stewardship Council eco-label. The Means-End Chain theoretical framework is used to analyse this process. A mixed-method approach was employed, combining laddering interviews to construct a Hierarchical Value Map, and semi-structured thematic interviews to gain a deeper understanding of consumer perceptions and behaviour. The Hierarchical Value Map analysis identified price, origin, and freshness/frost status as the primary factors influencing consumer choices. While eco-labels were considered, they often played a secondary role compared to these attributes. The study revealed varying levels of consumer awareness and trust in eco-labels, highlighting an uneven level of eco-label literacy among different consumer segments. The findings demonstrated that although eco-labels are significant, they face competition from more immediate attributes such as price and origin in shaping consumer behaviour. Trust and education regarding eco-labels are essential in guiding consumers towards more sustainable choices. Future research should focus on strategies to enhance trust in eco-labels and examine the influence of cultural factors on consumer perceptions of sustainable practices. Contributions of this project are seen in valuable insights into the complexities of consumer decision-making in sustainable seafood purchases. It emphasizes the importance of eco-labels in promoting environmental stewardship through market mechanisms.

The study of euarthropod evolution in the Cambrian is challenging due to controversies surrounding the identification of various anatomical features. Radiodontans are supported to be a monophyletic group to the lower stem of euarthropods. Radiodontans have complex bodies made up of powerful frontal appendages called “long” great appendages and an oral opening. Similarly, megacheirans are also a group of Cambrian marine organisms, however, with an uncertain placement in the arthropod family tree. They are characterized by their “short” great appendages. Megacheirans are thought to either be stem-group chelicerates or the basal upper stem-group euarthropods. Parapeytoia yunnanensis, which shows morphological aspects of both radiodontans and megacheirans, could be the “missing link” between the megacheirans and the radiodontans, and shed light on what stem-group the megacheirans belong to.  P. yunnanensis frontal appendages share great similarity between the frontal appendages of megacheirans suggesting that P. yunnanensis might have been a stem-group chelicerate. However, the gnathobases of P. yunnanensis resemble closely that of radiodontans. Furthermore, P. yunnanensis oral morphology is deeply rooted in stem-group euarthropods. Therefore, it is indicated that megacheirans were stem-group euarthropods, and not chelicerates. Completing a transition in the euarthropod stem-group with P. yunnanensis as a transition from radiodontans to megacheirans. / Att forska på utvecklingen hos kambriska äkta leddjur är utmanande på grund av svårigheter kring identifieringen av olika anatomiska egenskaper. Radiodonter ses som en monofyletisk grupp under stammen äkta leddjur. Radiodonter har komplexa kroppar som består av kraftfulla frontallemmar, som kallas ”långa” stora lemmar, samt en distinkt mun. Å andra sidan är megacheiraner en grupp av kambriska marina organismer med en osäker placering i leddjurens släktträd. De kännetecknas av sina ”korta” stora lemmar. Megacheiraner tros antingen vara del av stamgruppen palpkäkar eller stamgruppen äkta-leddjur. Parapeytoia yunnanensis, som visar morfologiska aspekter av både radiodonter och megacheirans, kan vara länken mellan dem. P. yunnanensis kan i sådana fall avgöra vilken grupp megacheirans tillhör. P. yunnanensis frontallem delar stor likhet mellan frontallemmen hos megacheirans, vilket skulle kunna innebära att P. yunnanensis kan ha varit en stamgrupp till palpkäkarna. Gnatobaserna hos P. yunnanensis liknar dock gnatobaserna hos radiodonterna. Dessutom är morfologin av P. yunnanensis mun vanligt förekommande i stamgruppen äkta-leddjur. Ett rimligt antagande är därför att megacheiraner hör till stamgruppen äkta-leddjur och inte stamgruppen palpkäkar. Därmed skulle P. yunnanensis utgöra en tydlig övergång mellan radiodontanerna och megacheiranerna.

Production and consumption of food have several environmental impacts, regardless of the type of food production. However, food production can have a particularly large impact on the environment, as it often causes pollution and spreads harmful contaminants in nature. Additionally, a lot of food is produced today, which leads to a significant amount being wasted and contributing to environmental problems. In Sweden, approximately 1.3 million meals are served daily in schools. There is a need to study food waste, its causes, amounts, and what can be done to reduce it. Therefore, the factors affecting food waste in school cafeterias must be known, and different methods can be used, such as interviews and surveys. By investigating the causes of food waste, problem areas can be identified, and solutions can be found to reduce food waste. The study underscores the importance of studying food waste and increasing awareness to promote sustainability. It is an important task that requires cooperation and commitment from all involved parties and can have positive effects on both the environment and society as a whole. In this study, several factors contributing to the problem were identified, and suggestions for measures to reduce waste were presented. One of the major challenges is the lack of awareness and education about food waste among both students and teachers. The results indicated that the topic is rarely discussed in the classroom, resulting in insufficient knowledge about how to reduce waste. Another important factor is students' dissatisfaction with the taste of the food, which leads to incomplete meals or leftovers on their plates. To address students' needs, improvements in menu planning are proposed, including collaboration with professional chefs and dieticians to offer a diverse menu that can reduce waste. A short lunchtime and the pressure to return to classes on time also contribute to food waste. To mitigate waste, measures such as increasing awareness through classroom discussions and information campaigns are suggested. Involving students in menu planning and ensuring they have sufficient time to eat can also contribute to waste reduction. Education on nutrition, healthy eating habits, and portion control is emphasized as crucial.

Background: Canada is the only developed country with universal healthcare but no universal prescription drug coverage. Prescription drug coverage in Canada is often described as a “patchwork” system; eligibility for coverage varies by province and influenced by circumstance. Subsets of the population are eligible for partial or full provincial coverage for their prescription medications through public and/or private coverage. Methods: The extent and factors associated with misreporting of drug insurance and cost-related non-adherence (CRNA) to prescribed medicines were investigated in three study populations: Ontario seniors 65 and over, Quebec seniors 65 and over, and Quebec adults 25-64 using pooled data from the 2015/2016 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). The rationale for these study cohorts was that the vast majority had partial or full coverage for prescription medications from a public and/or private source. The factors associated with CRNA to prescribed medicines were also explored in these three subgroups. Results: There is a degree of misreporting of drug insurance among Ontario seniors (17%), Quebec seniors (18%) and Quebec adults (9%). Quebec adults who declared CRNA to prescribed drugs had twice the odds of misreporting prescription drug coverage (OR 2.1 95% CI 1.3-3.4). Lower-income earners among Ontario seniors (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.3-2.6), Quebec seniors (OR 1.7 95% CI 1.2-2.6), and Quebec adults (OR 3.4, 95% CI 2.3-5.1) were more likely to misreport coverage. Quebec seniors were more likely to misreport if they had less than a secondary school education (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.8). Ontario seniors who were immigrants were more likely to misreport coverage (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2-1.8), as were Quebec seniors who were immigrants (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.4-3.5). Ontario seniors who had a flu shot in the past 12 months (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.5-9.9) and Quebec adults who had visited a GP in the past 12 months (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.45,0.77) were less likely to misreport coverage. CRNA to prescribed drugs was reported by Ontario seniors (3.3%), Quebec seniors (2.5%), and Quebec adults (5.3%). Low-income Ontario seniors (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.5-5.7) and Quebec adults (2.5, 95% CI 1.6-3.8) were more likely to report CRNA to prescribed medicines. Quebec adults with chronic conditions (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2-2.4) and those in self-reported poor health (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3-4.4) were also more likely to report CRNA to prescribed drugs. Conclusions: There appears to be a socio-economic gradient in misreporting and CRNA among Ontario seniors, Quebec seniors, and Quebec adults. Given most of these subgroups will have coverage, we hypothesize a degree of measurement error among responses. More specifically, respondents who report CRNA to prescribed medicines may reflect measurement error. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Canada is a country that prides itself on universal healthcare yet lacks an important component - universal prescription drug coverage. Hence, it is often described as a “patchwork system” whereby Canadians must rely on a combination of public and private drugs plans depending upon circumstance. As a result, a proportion of Canadians lack prescription drug coverage and may be unable to afford prescription medications. This study aimed to investigate self-reported knowledge of prescription drug insurance in three populations: Ontario seniors 65 years and over, Quebec seniors 65 years and older, and Quebec adults 25-64 years old. The determinants of misreporting of drug insurance among these study populations was the primary objective of this analysis. The association between cost-related nonadherence (CRNA) to prescribed drugs and misreporting was a key variable in the analysis. Although only a small proportion of respondents reported CRNA to prescribed drugs, Quebec adults 25-64 were more likely to misreport drug coverage if they also reported CRNA. This study has provided some clarity on the factors that influence misreporting of drug insurance by Ontario seniors, Quebec seniors, and Quebec adults. Given health policy decisions are often guided by studies based on this data, researchers may consider a degree of misreporting in responses. Policy should aim to reduce misunderstandings about their drug coverage.

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