Software Defined Radio (SDR) is a growing technology that allows radio communication to become interoperable. SDR can lower the cost for a particular hardware radio to communicate with another radio that uses a different standard. In order to show the capability of SDR, this thesis shows how to implement IEEE 802.14.5, a low-rate wireless personal area network (LR-WPAN) standard, on a standalone embedded machine. The implementation is done using a universal software radio peripheral embedded, USRP E100, an open source software development toolkit for SDR, GNU Radio, and UCLA ZigBee PHY GNU Radio application. The implementation can be done on the regular non-embedded USRPs. However, without a fast host computer demodulating the packets, the USRP E100 cannot receive incoming packets. An available FPGA is used to solve this problem by doing a software-hardware hybrid design to allow the USRP E100 to communicate with other IEEE 802.15.4 devices. The final product is an IEEE 802.15.4 monitor software that detects messages from devices communicating using IEEE 802.15.4 in its range. In addition, recommendations are presented for improving SDR education and training, particularly for developers with backgrounds in disciplines other than communications engineering. / Master of Science

Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka relationen mellan personlighetsdrag och ensamhet enligt definitionen av femfaktormodellen, och bringa klarhet i om denna association beror på könstillhörighet eller invandrarstatus. För att beskriva sambandet mellan personlighetsdrag och ensamhet har Kindling-hypotesen anammats. Kortfattat beskriver Kindling-hypotesen att oönskade  personlighetsdrag kan lämna “psykologiska ärr” på en individs personlighet, som i sin tur intensifierar upplevd ensamhet. Totalt inkluderades 171 respondenter i studien (i åldrarna 18-36; 71,3 % var kvinnor, och 28,7 % män).  Resultaten påvisade att det fanns en positiv association mellan neuroticism och ensamhet, och en negativ association mellan samvetsgrannhet och ensamhet. Slutsatsen som kunde dras från studien är att neuroticism samt samvetsgrannhet har en roll i relation till ensamhet. / The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between personality traits according to the Big Five model of personality and loneliness, and bring to light whether this association is moderated by gender or immigrant status. In order to describe the relation between personality traits and loneliness, the Kindling Effect has been used. Briefly, the Kindling Effect describes how unwanted personality traits can leave “psychological scars” in an individual’s personality, which in turn intensifies perceived loneliness. 171 respondents were included in a survey (aged 18-46; 71.3 % were women and 28,7 % men). The results showed that there was a positive association between neuroticism and loneliness, and a negative association between extraversion and loneliness. These results suggest that extraversion and neuroticism plays an important role in relation to loneliness.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has had an enormous impact worldwide and is posing a threat to the physical and mental health of world citizens. The present study examines the extent to which a sample of Swedish university students have experienced loneliness during COVID-19. Furthermore, it also examines if there is a correlation between a high degree of loneliness and increased alcohol consumption. Participants consisted of Swedish university students recruited online using opportunity sampling (N=224). Loneliness was measured using the UCLA Loneliness Scale translated into Swedish. Results showed that the sample displayed higher levels of loneliness compared to normative scores but lower levels when compared to students elsewhere who have been quarantined. A logistic regression found no connection between high degrees of loneliness and increased alcohol consumption in the sample. The results and their implications are discussed. A pre-post measurement design and longitudinal studies are encouraged for future research to evaluate long term consequences of loneliness, along with an increased focus on ways to reduce loneliness. Finally, we suggest that loneliness should continue to be a priority in research in order to fully understand the psychological impact of COVID-19. / Utbrottet av COVID-19 pandemin har haft en enorm påverkan världen över och utgör ett hot mot den fysiska och mentala hälsan. Vår studie syftade till att undersöka i vilken utsträckning ett urval av svenska universitetsstudenter upplevt ensamhet under COVID-19. Vidare har studien undersökt om det fanns ett samband mellan en hög grad av upplevd ensamhet under COVID-19 och ökad alkoholkonsumtion. Deltagarna bestod av svenska universitetsstudenter vilka rekryterades online genom bekvämlighetsurval (N=224). Deltagarna fyllde i en enkät där subjektiv ensamhet mättes med hjälp av en översatt version av UCLA Loneliness Scale till svenska. Resultaten visade att studenterna i vårt urval uppvisade högre nivå av ensamhet jämfört med normvärden, men lägre jämfört med studenter i andra länder som suttit i karantän. En logistisk regression fann inget samband mellan upplevd ensamhet och ökad alkoholkonsumtion. Resultaten och deras implikationer diskuteras. För framtida forskning uppmuntras en för- och eftermätningsdesign samt longitudinella studier att utvärdera långsiktiga konsekvenser av ensamhet, samt ett ökat fokus på sätt att minska ensamhet. Slutligen föreslås att ensamhet blir ett fortsatt fokus i forskningen för att fullt ut förstå psykologiska effekterna av COVID-19.

Syftet med studien var att undersöka ofrivillig ensamhet i den svenska befolkningen utifrån faktorer som tidigare har visat sig associerade med oönskad ensamhet, nämligen ålder, inkomst, civilstånd, kön, antal hushållsmedlemmar och även storleken på orten där personen bor. Upplevelsen av ensamhet före och under coronapandemin har också studerats. Totalt har 196 personer svarat på ett frågeformulär som mäter de tidigare nämnda faktorerna och ensamhet enligt UCLA-ensamhetsindex. Resultaten visar att ensamheten är störst bland den yngre populationen och bland dem med lägst inkomst. Resultaten påvisade även att storstadsbor upplever sig mindre ensamma än de som bor i mindre orter. Studien kunde inte visa att coronapandemin haft någon inverkan på ensamhetsupplevelsen. Det fanns ingen statistiskt signifikant skillnad i ensamhet utifrån kön, civilstånd eller antal medlemmar i hushållet. Slutsatsen som kan dras från studien är att inkomst, ålder och storleken på orten där individen bor har betydelse för ofrivillig ensamhet. / The purpose of the present study was to examine the involuntary loneliness in the Swedish population considering factors that previously have been shown to be associated, i.e. age, income, civil status, gender, number of household members and size of the locality where the individual lives. Even the experienced level of loneliness before and during the coronavirus pandemics has been studied. A total of 196 individuals have responded to a questionnaire aimed to measure the previously named factors as well as the loneliness index according to the UCLA Loneliness Scale. The results show that involuntary loneliness is more widespread among younger individuals and among those with lowest incomes. The results also show that people living in Sweden's largest localities feel less lonely than those living in smaller localities. The current study could not conclude that the coronavirus pandemic has had any effect on loneliness. No statistically significant differences in loneliness have been found when it comes to gender, civil status or number of members in the household. Overall, it can be concluded that income, age and the size of the locality where the individual lives are significant in the experience of involuntary loneliness.

This thesis primarily addresses the implications of Fremont gaming pieces in the Parowan Valley. First, I review ethnographic gaming pieces and compare them to the Fremont worked bone pieces in order to support the idea that they were used by the Fremont in games similar to the ones recorded ethnographically. Then, I analyze a collection of Fremont gaming pieces from excavations at three Parowan Valley sites. I note drastic differences in the characteristics found on pieces inside the Parowan Valley and those form outside the Parowan Valley. It is also clear that gaming pieces are being produced in the Parowan Valley and used more frequently there when compared to outside of it. I suggest that this means large aggregations are taking place in the Parowan Valley in the late Fremont period.

Syftet med detta arbete var att studera hur individer som upplever ensamhet på olika sätt sätter ord på ensamheten. Arbetet genomfördes genom att jag lyssnade på radioprogrammet ”Radiopsykologen” i P1 varifrån avsnitt som handlade om ensamhet valdes ut för analys. Arbetet bygger på totalt 31 stycken avsnitt från radioprogrammet, alla sända mellan 2020-07-27 och 2021-06-11. Insamlad data bearbetades med hjälp av tematisk analys och mynnade ut i följande tre huvudteman; Kontrasternas ensamhet, Övergivenhetens ensamhet och Avskärmningens ensamhet.  Tidigare forskning visar på svårigheter att exakt definiera begreppet ensamhet vilket delvis grundar sig i att ensamhet är en individuell och subjektiv upplevelse. I Kontrasternas ensamhet har denna subjektivitet försökt fångas in och ensamheten som återfinns i detta tema har grund i en slags upplevelse av kontrast som uppstått i deltagarnas liv. Ensamhet med grund i olika sorters upplevda kontraster i livet har varit svårt att påvisa i tidigare forskning. Däremot kan man till viss del knyta dessa kontraster till den ensamhet som uppstår till följd av en upplevelse av diskrepans mellan det individen önskar och det denne faktiskt har i sitt liv, vilket återfinns i tidigare forskning.  Övergivenhetens ensamhet fångar in det som i materialet visade sig vara en av de främsta anledningarna till varför individer upplever eller har upplevt ensamhet. Ofta förklaras denna ensamhet i termer av brister eller svårigheter individen upplevt under barndomen. Denna form av ensamhet går därför att knyta till tidigare forskning genom anknytnings- och evolutionsteori.  I Avskärmningens ensamhet finner vi deltagare som använder sig av avskärmning för att hantera olika livsförhållanden, vilket leder till en upplevelse av ensamhet. I tidigare forskning återfinns bland annat avskärmningsstrategin suppression of emotions, det vill säga användandet av en slags emotionell avskärmning vilket i sin tur kan riskera att leda till ensamhet.  För en kliniskt verksam psykolog är det viktigt att försöka finna orsaken till den upplevda ensamheten hos de patienter man möter. Det är dessutom av stor vikt att psykologen inser att det finns många olika typer av ensamhet. För att förstå en patients upplevda ensamhet kan psykologen behöva undersöka både patientens nuvarande livsförhållanden likväl som patientens uppväxtförhållanden för att finna svar. / The aim of this thesis was to study how individuals who experience loneliness depict loneliness in different ways. The work was carried out by listening to the radio program “Radiopsykologen” at the radio station P1 from which sections dealing with loneliness was selected for analysis. The work is based on 31 episodes from the radio program, all broadcasted between 2020-07-27 and 2021-06-11. The collected data was processed using thematic analysis and resulted in the following three main themes; The loneliness of contrasts, The loneliness of abandonment and The loneliness of social withdrawal.  Previous research has found it difficult to agree on an exact definition of loneliness, which is partly based on the fact that loneliness is an individual and subjective experience. In The loneliness of contrasts, I have attempted to capture this subjectivity and the loneliness you find in this theme is based on a kind of experience of contrast found in the participants’ lives. Loneliness based on different kinds of perceived contrasts in life is hard to find in previous research. On the other hand, to some extent these contrasts can be linked to the loneliness that arises as a result of an experience of discrepancy between what the individual wants and what he actually has in his life, which can be found in previous research.  The loneliness of abandonment tries to capture what was shown in the material to be one of the foremost reasons individuals experience or have experienced loneliness. This was often described in terms of either shortcomings or difficulties that the individual experienced during childhood. This form of loneliness can be linked to previous research through attachment- and evolutionary theory.  In The loneliness of social withdrawal, we find participants who use withdrawal to deal with different life situations, which leads to the experience of loneliness. In previous research, the withdrawal strategy suppression of emotions can be found, i.e. the use of a kind of emotional withdrawal, which in turn can lead to loneliness.  For the clinical psychologist, it is important to try find the reason to the patients perceived feelings of loneliness. Additionally, it is of great importance that the psychologist realizes there is many different types of loneliness. To understand the patients’ experience of loneliness, the psychologist may need to explore both the patients’ present life circumstances as well as their upbringing conditions to find answers.

This dissertation examines the political and business career of H. R. “Bob” Haldeman. Scholars studying Richard M. Nixon’s presidency and administration have given very little attention to Haldeman’s career before and after his time as chief of staff. This dissertation argues that in order to understand Haldeman’s actions as chief of staff one needs to have a firm understanding of his career before he entered Nixon’s White House. In contrast to what many have argued, an overt interest in politics and overriding ambition to serve Nixon did not solely drive Haldeman. Instead, the development of Haldeman’s career is best understood through his consistent search for opportunities and activities in which he could alter, reform, or improve existing processes and organizations. Only a study of his entire career brings this motivation to the forefront. Using Haldeman’s recollections, his White House diaries, archival records relating to his business and political career, assessments of the Nixon presidency, and the recently published memoir of his wife, this dissertation provides an in-depth study of his career as a manager in business and politics. This study answers important questions regarding Haldeman’s background, intellectual makeup, and the trajectory of his career by reexamining Haldeman’s work for Nixon and his career in the advertising industry and analyzing how each of these experiences informed his life, skillset, and his managerial behavior. Providing the scholarship with a more complete picture of Haldeman’s life and career augments the understanding of Richard Nixon’s political career and presidency, by filling a critical void with a more comprehensive overview of a close aide and a major figure at the center of the Watergate scandal. An examination of Haldeman’s entire career, moreover, illuminates how significant developments in twentieth century United States political and business history impacted one individual.

No description available.