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A mobile stroke unit (MSU) is a specialized ambulance, enabling to shorten the time to diagnosis and treatment for stroke patients. In the current paper, we present a simulation-based approach to study the potential impacts of collaborative use of regular ambulances and MSUs in prehospital transportation for stroke patients, denoted as co-dispatching. We integrated a co-dispatch policy in an existing modeling framework for constructing emergency medical services simulation models. In a case study, we applied the extended framework to southern Sweden to evaluate the effectiveness of using the co-dispatch policy for different types of stroke. The results indicate reduced time to diagnosis and treatment for stroke patients when using the co-dispatch policy compared to the situation where either a regular ambulance or an MSU is assigned for a stroke incident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ambulance travel time estimations play a pivotal role in ensuring timely and efficient emergency medical care by predicting the duration for an ambulance to reach a specific location. Overlooking factors such as local traffic situations, day of the week, hour of the day, or the weather may create a risk of inaccurately estimating the ambulance travel times, which might lead to delayed emergency response times, potentially impacting patient outcomes. In the current paper, we propose a novel framework for accurately estimating ambulance travel times using machine learning paradigms, employing real-world spatiotemporal ambulance data from the Skane region, Sweden. Our framework includes data preprocessing and feature engineering, with a focus on variables significantly correlated with travel time. First, through a comprehensive exploratory data analysis, we highlight the main characteristics, patterns, and underlying trends of the considered ambulance data set. Then, we present an extensive empirical analysis comparing the performance of different machine learning models across different ambulance travel trip scenarios and feature sets, revealing insights into the importance of each feature in improving the estimation accuracy. Our experiments indicate that the aforementioned factors play a significant role when estimating the travel time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of electric vehicles offers a promising approach to achieving a more sustainable transportation system, given their lower production of direct emissions. However, the limited driving range and insufficient public recharging infrastructure in some areas hinder their competitiveness against traditional vehicles with internal combustion engines. To address these issues, this paper introduces an "iterative route cover optimization method" to suggest charging station locations in high-demand regions. The method samples routes from a route choice set and optimally locates at least one charging station along each route. Through iterative resampling and optimal allocation of charging stations, the method identifies the potential recharging demand in a location or a region. We demonstrate the method's applicability to a transportation network of the southern part of Sweden. The results show that the proposed method is capable to suggest locations and geographical regions where the recharging demand is potentially high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A process for obtaining valuable sugars from biorefinery side streams was designed and simulated. • A Swedish thermo-mechanical pulping plant, Hallsta Paper Mill , was used as a case study. • A very detailed techno-economic analysis was performed based on latest process technology. • The profitability of the process depends mainly on the market price of produced specialty sugars. • The analysis showed that the process is widely applicable to hemicellulose-rich side-streams. The current work describes a process for converting hemicellulose-rich industrial side streams to specialty sugars utilizing green technology and commercially available acidic heterogeneous catalysts. Focus is placed on the detailed overall process design and techno-economic assessment of integrating the concept into an existing thermo-mechanical pulping plant, namely the Hallsta Paper Mill , located near Hallstavik in Sweden. The techno-economic analysis is based on laboratory relevant results for the process under study including catalyst performance and kinetics as well as extensive operational and economic data on cost formation. A detailed sensitivity analysis was also performed to evaluate the performance of concept in a changing economic environment. The results show that the process would be highly profitable in the studied case with a rather high safety margin. The process is widely applicable to other biorefinery concepts with hemicellulose containing side streams and the presented techno-economic analysis is very relevant for the evaluation of site-specific viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy transition towards sustainable resources is more urgent than ever given the environmental and geopolitical challenges. Being one of the major energy users, cities need to understand their energy sector to accomplish its transition, by means of data. However, data are not easily accessible and have their own challenges. This paper presents a joint effort between researchers, city representatives and industry to provide an urban system service that supports research, accelerates urban innovation, and involves the community. An energy data portal, "NRGYHUB", has been developed, where hourly data from thousands of energy meters are available. These meters were collected from neighborhoods in the city of Västerås, Sweden, and they measure electrical and heating energy. In addition, the data are complemented by geometrical and non-geometrical information of the buildings, as well as demographic statistics of the areas. The paper describes the process of data collection, preprocessing, and visualization, in addition to the main challenges and limitations of the project. This dataset can be used for energy use benchmarking, prediction, and analysis. • The creation and implementation of an energy data portal is detailed and made available on nrgyhub.mdu.se. • Legal and licensing issues in data sharing are explored, offering insights for those interested in Sweden and beyond • By showcasing real-world problems, the impact and role of this data sharing initiative are demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dairy farmer's decision to cull or keep dairy cows is likely a complex decision based on animal health and farm management practices. The present paper investigated the relationship between cow longevity and animal health, and between longevity and farm investments, while controlling for farm-specific characteristics and animal management practices, by using Swedish dairy farm and production data for the period 2009 to 2018. We used the ordinary least square and unconditional quantile regression model to perform mean-based and heterogeneous-based analysis, respectively. Findings from the study indicate that, on average, animal health has a negative but insignificant effect on dairy herd longevity. This implies that culling is predominantly done for other reasons than poor health status. Investment in farm infrastructure has a positive and significant effect on dairy herd longevity. The investment in farm infrastructure creates room for new or superior recruitment heifers without the need to cull existing dairy cows. Production variables that prolong dairy cow longevity include higher milk yield and an extended calving interval. Findings from this study imply that the relatively short longevity of dairy cows in Sweden compared with some dairy producing countries is not a result of problems with health and welfare. Rather, dairy cow longevity in Sweden hinges on the farmers' investment decisions, farm-specific characteristics and animal management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When negotiating sensitive and taboo topics language needs to be used carefully so as not to cause offence or disrupt the interlocutors' relationship. One way to do this is through the use of vague language. In this study, we provide an in-depth, qualitative analysis of vague, euphemistic language, which may be perceived as marginally 'figurative', that is used to negotiate taboo and sensitive topics concerning culture, immigration, race and class. We use the term figurative to include metaphor and metonymy. The paper's focus is on linguistic strategies that employ content words which are in turn, ambiguously figurative, vague and de-emphasising, as well as emphatic qualifiers, and hedging signals, that distance the speaker from their words or prepare the listener for figurative language to come, as tuning devices. The data used in the study are from the METCLIL (Alejo-Gonzalez et al., 2021) corpus and comprise two classes of English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) students in Sweden studying international marketing in a post-graduate program. After a detailed discourse analysis, we show how L2 users exploit the vagueness inherent in ambiguously figurative language (i.e. language that we perceive to be "on the fringes of metaphor") to discuss complex topics in a pragmatically sensitive manner in ways that expand previously established categories for VL and collapse others. • EMI L2 users employ a sophisticated combination of vague language (VL) and figurative language (FL). • This use is non-prototypical, on the "fringes" of metaphor, and provides nuance for sensitive topics. • VL and FL interact dynamically: FL may introduce VL (and vice versa) or constitute its use. • Two VL categories (de-intensifiers/vague categories) may be collapsed: both decrease tone. • L2 users can make nuanced use of language to discuss complex topics in a pragmatically sensitive way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Travel time reliability is vital for both road agencies and road users. Expected travel time reliability can be used by road agencies to assess the state of a transportation system, and by road users, to schedule their trips. Road network deficiencies, such as insufficient traffic flow capacity of a road segment or poor road design, have a negative impact on the reliability of travel times. Thus, to maintain robust and reliable travel times, the detection of road network deficiencies is vital. By continuously analyzing travel times and using appropriate travel time reliability measurements, it is possible to detect existing deficiencies or deficiencies that may eventually occur unless necessary actions are taken. In many cases, indices and measurements of travel time reliability are related to the distribution of the travel times, specifically the skewness and width of the distribution. The current paper introduces a median-based misery index for travel time reliability. The index is robust and handles travel times that follow a skewed distribution well. The index measures the relative difference between the slow travel speeds and the free-flow travel speed. The index is inspired by the median absolute deviation, and its primary application is to detect routes or road segments with potential road network deficiencies. To demonstrate the applicability of the index, we conducted an empirical case study using real travel speed data from the European route E4 in Sweden. The results from the empirical case study indicate that the index is capable of detecting road segments with slow travel speeds regardless of the travel speed distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a directionality framework that highlights goal, sector and solution as key dimensions of transformative policy missions. The framework is used to investigate the directionality of process industry decarbonization in Sweden, by analyzing the orientation of projects supported by the major national funding program the 'Industry Leap' between 2017 and 2022. The results show that innovation activities (i) mainly aim to reduce fossil emissions rather than produce negative emissions, (ii) focus on the steel and chemicals industries, and (iii) engage mostly with carbon capture, electrification and hydrogen. This indicates that innovation activities are somewhat narrow and imbalanced, which suggests that policymakers should promote broader experimentation. The theoretical and empirical contribution of this paper supports academics, policymakers and other actors in understanding, evaluating and shaping the directionality of transformative policy missions. [Display omitted] • Transformative policy missions unfold in goal, sector and solution dimensions. • The directionality of process industry decarbonization in Sweden is analyzed. • Innovation activities focus on decarbonizing steel and chemicals production. • Carbon capture, electrification and hydrogen are the main solution pathways. • Swedish policymakers should promote broader experimentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating carbon dioxide (CO 2) capture in biomass or waste-fired combined heat and power (CHP) plants has been considered a key measure to achieve negative emissions. To support decision-making, an accurate assessment of the potential contribution and the associated cost from the national perspective is urgently needed. This paper proposed a bottom-up approach based on a dynamic modelling to evaluate the potental of nationwide negative emissions. As heat supply is often prioritized by CHP plants, unchanged heat generation is a prerequisite of this study. Two operating modes (OMs) for the integration of CO 2 capture are investigated, which can represent the upper and lower boundaries of CO 2 capture: OM1 aims to maximize the amount of captured CO 2 , while electricity generation can be sacrificed; OM2 aims to maximize the amount of captured CO 2 , while the electricity generation is maintained unchanged. Sweden is employed as a case study. Results show that operating CO 2 capture in OM1 can achieve 8.7 million ton CO 2 nationwide negative emissions a year, while operating CO 2 capture in OM2 can generate 4.3 million ton CO 2 positive emissions a year, which represents a reduction of 6.3 million tonCO 2 a year compared with the reference plant without CO 2 capture. The levelized costs of CO 2 avoided are 36.9 USD/tonCO 2 and 52.0 USD/tonCO 2 for OM1 and OM2, respectively. The biogenic fraction of waste has a significant influence on negative emissions. According to the Swedish climate goal about bioenergy with CO 2 capture and storage (BECCS), to achieve 3 million ton negative CO 2 emissions a year, the minimum biogenic fractions should be 32.8% and 84.3% for operating CO 2 capture in OM1 and OM2, respectively; in contrast, to achieve 10 million ton negative emissions a year, biomass and waste-fired CHP plants have to operate CO 2 capture in OM1 and the biogenic fraction needs to be over 59.9%. • The potential range of negative CO 2 emissions from CHP plants is identified. • The costs associated with capturing CO 2 from CHP plants are evaluated. • The biogenic fraction of fuel shows a large impact on net CO 2 emissions. • CO 2 capture is operated based on the prerequisite of unchanged heat generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy demand in Sweden is increasing due to the growing electrification, and to meet this need, the generation must be expanded. Wind power generation is a very attractive renewable power production alternative for Sweden because of the favorable weather conditions. Research looks at how much wind energy may be deemed sustainable. Increased energy demand puts pressure on the government and industry to build more wind farms and, as a result, produce more wind turbines. Raw materials are necessary for wind turbines to provide a secure transition to green energy technologies. To meet these demands, the materials from various countries should efficiently contribute towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper gathers information about raw resources from diverse nations worldwide. All materials are mapped to the country where they are produced using social science criteria. A few nations are chosen based on a sample approach for further analysis, and the implications of mining operations are investigated. Finally, the direct and indirect effects of the SDGs are considered. Based on the data gathered, recommendations and considerations are given to avoid or mitigate the repercussions of raw materials mining and make wind power generation more socially and environmentally sustainable. • Evaluation of side effects of wind turbine raw materials. • The extraction of raw materials often violates human rights. • Mining of raw materials for wind turbines negatively affects the environment. • Extraction of wind turbine materials affects several Sustainable Development Goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic flows play a very important role in transportation engineering. In particular, link flows are a source of information about the traffic state, which is usually available from the authorities that manage road networks. Link flows are commonly used in both short-term and long-term planning models for operation and maintenance, and to forecast the future needs of transportation infrastructure. In this paper, we propose a model to study how traffic flow in one location can be expected to reflect the traffic flow in a nearby region. The statistical basis of the model is derived from link flows to find estimates of the distribution of traffic flows in junctions. The model is evaluated in a numerical study, which uses real link flow data from a transportation network in southern Sweden. The results indicate that the model may be useful for studying how large departing flows from a node reflect the link flows in a neighboring geographic region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines explicit positive assessments (EPAs) in personal training, that is, the personal trainer's positive evaluations of the client's physical performance, including comments such as bra ('good'). The data consist of video-recorded training-sessions in Swedish from Finland and Sweden. The methodological framework is interactional linguistics, and the study explores the actions that EPAs perform as well as their linguistic design and embodied and sequential environment. The main actions performed by EPAs in personal training include transitioning between activities, encouraging the client, and making positive evaluations. The personal trainer (PT) may vary the lexical, syntactic, prosodic, and embodied features of the EPA to emphasize any of these actions or a combination of them. Overall, EPAs are a central resource for fulfilling the institutional goals of personal training by guiding the clients through the training-program and motivating them. In addition to their use as feedback on actions in the present moment, EPAs also include forward-focusing aspects aimed at guiding clients' future behavior. • Feedback is essential in personal training, as in other pedagogical settings. • We study feedback in the form of PTs' explicit positive assessments (EPAs). • Examples of EPAs are "good" and "well done". • EPAs are used for transitions, encouragement, and evaluations in personal training. • Prosodic and embodied features are especially crucial for the meaning of EPAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design- and construction stage of large construction projects are often two separate fragmented processes. Early contractor involvement (ECI) is a project delivery method where the goal is to include construction knowledge into the design phase. This is done by procuring the contractor during the design phase of a project. There are different approaches to which time the contractor is introduced. This research paper aims to investigate the optimal time for contractors to enter infrastructure projects. In order to do this, an empirical study was conducted, where interviews were held with nine representatives from an ongoing ECI project in Sweden. The studied project was procured by the Swedish Transport Administration, and the contractor entered the project at the beginning of the design phase, before a land acquisition plan had been developed. This is the first time in Sweden that a contractor has been procured this early in a road project. The findings from the interviews show that responsibility, understanding, innovation, risk management, relationship-building and implementation are the aspects that have been affected due to ECI. By analyzing and discussing the results, it was concluded that involving the contractor as early as in the studied case has been beneficial, and that involving the contractor as early as possible in infrastructure project is favorable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learning is fundamental to the practice and effectiveness of environmental assessment. This paper provides new empirical insights into how researchers engage in collaboration with practitioners and the learning outcomes that this provides. Furthermore, a typology of researcher roles is provided to aid researchers in having a dialogue and navigating tensions and potentials by adopting different roles. This paper builds on researchers' engagement in three cases related to Swedish environmental assessment (EA) and planning practice. The analytical framework is brought in from the sustainability transition literature on process-oriented researcher roles. The results show that the researchers adopted several roles to provide knowledge and solutions but also to be a critical voice and support practitioner reflection. Furthermore, the work required reflexivity. It was significant that the researchers actively intervened and moved between roles to adapt to shifting needs. The processes contributed to learning in forms of reprioritisations, new routines and solutions implemented in practice. Furthermore, the process contributed to new understandings, empowerment and increased capacity among participants, e.g. through enhanced collaboration and stronger relations across disciplinary boundaries as well as enhanced knowledge and practical experience of EA key features. • Researcher-practitioner collaboration facilitates s various learning outcomes in EA practice. • Researchers adopt and combine several process-oriented roles to support learning. • A typology of researcher roles facilitates transparency and allows for better design of collaboration. • Reflexivity is a key role but need to be balanced to action and scientific analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to investigate the determinants of the adoption of green public procurement (GPP) practices at the local authority level. A conceptual contribution of the paper is an analytical framework, which acknowledges that the adoption of green criteria in tenders should be modelled as a conditionally independent decision from the decision to rely on GPP strategies (guidelines). This approach can help provide novel insights into how various political, organizational, and individual characteristics influence GPP. The paper provides an empirical illustration by concentrating on the role of organizational size. This analysis is based on survey responses from civil servants representing 140 Swedish municipalities. The results are based on the bivariate ordered probit estimator and suggest that large municipalities are more likely to rely on GPP strategies but also less prone to adopt green criteria in tenders when controlling for the presence of such strategies. In large organizations, the centralization of the procurement implies efficiency gains, but it will often be accompanied with longer organizational distances between the procuring and the environmental departments. The paper also highlights the wider implications of the proposed framework, including how future research on GPP practices could approach the role of various political and individual factors. • The purpose is to investigate the determinants of green public procurement (GPP) practices. • The key contribution is an analytical framework addressing the endogeneity of GPP decisions. • The value of the framework is shown empirically by focusing on role of organizational size. • Survey answers from procurement managers are studied in a bivariate ordered probit model. • Large organizations often rely on GPP guidelines but may not adopt green criteria in tenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Packaging can play a key role in reducing food waste and enabling resource efficient logistics operations. This paper offers insights into why this potential is not fully adopted by companies in food supply chains by exploring adoption barriers for sustainable packaging practices in ten companies in South Africa and Sweden. The paper develops an analytical framework from theory and applies it to the empirical data. This resulted in ten propositions that structure adoption barriers for sustainable packaging practices in food supply chains and explain the reasons for their occurrence. The propositions can form a basis for researchers to understand why the adoption of sustainable packaging practices in food supply chains may be lacking. Corporate decision-makers can use the propositions to form strategies and initiatives to overcome adoption barriers. The study also identified some contextual differences, but overall, the contextual impact on adoption barriers was surprisingly low. To deepen research and practice insights about the complexity of adopting sustainable packaging practices, the paper offers a process view on the adoption barriers in which their relationships are linked. The analytical framework and the process view offer integrative views on adoption barriers for sustainable packaging practices that enable researchers and practitioners to address them with a structured approach. This explorative study finally unfolds further research opportunities. • Explore adoption barriers for sustainable packaging practices in food supply chains in South Africa and Sweden. • Ten propositions structure adoption barriers explain the reasons for their occurrence. • Help to understand why the adoption of sustainable packaging practices may be lacking. • Support corporate decision-makers to form strategies to overcome adoption barriers. • Identify contextual differences, which overall were surprisingly low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local actors are recognized as key drivers for climate action. Making climate change relevant and possible to act on in local contexts is thus a critical undertaking for both researchers and society at large. Connecting climate change to people's known surroundings and experiences, and framing climate action in relation to everyday practices in the local context, might then be crucial to making climate change relevant and actionable on the local level. In this paper, we explore the potential of forests to serve as such a connection. We have worked in close collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders in two case study locations in Sweden to explore potential courses of action for local climate action in relation to forests. We critically analyze these local articulations of climate action and examine the assumptions underlying them, with the aim to assess the effects and consequences of different problem representations. Our results illustrate the challenges of thinking and acting outside of the prevalent business-as-usual or more-of-everything discourses, of recognizing the importance of politics and choice, and of overcoming perceived barriers to action. We find tensions in the allocation of responsibility in both time and space – but also potential room for more local action in assumptions of un- or underused potential for political and civil action on the local level. • Dominating global discourses tend to limit space for local climate action. • Local stakeholders articulate local and regional level as central actors for change. • To further enable local climate action, need to discuss its conditions and premises. • Gap between local actor's perceptions of own potential to act and own power to act. • Addressing it could unlock capacity for local climate action, bottom-up solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition to a circular economy relies on systems that facilitate waste recovery and recirculation of resources. These systems are based on certain enabling technologies. The aim of this paper is to explain how socio-economic structures influence the diffusion of such technologies. It applies a framework built on societal embedding and varieties of capitalism to compare the diffusion of anaerobic digestion (AD) in Sweden in northern Europe and Paraná in southern Brazil. Both Sweden and Paraná have experienced accelerated diffusion of AD, but there are significant differences in the respective diffusion patterns. The comparative analysis points to a tradeoff between system complexity and speed of diffusion. It illustrates how AD can be presented as a solution to various problems, and it further shows how the specific problems that gain attention shape diffusion patterns. By showing how socio-economic structures influence the appointment of problem owners, their agency, and legitimate forms of institutional support, the analysis demonstrates how economic systems condition technology diffusion. • The paper compares the diffusion of anaerobic digestion in Sweden and Paraná. • It shows how socio-economic structures have shaped diffusion patterns. • There is to a trade-off between sociotechnical system complexity and speed of diffusion. • Economic systems condition the diffusion of key technologies for a circular economy. • Analyses of recirculation potential must consider socio-economic structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we develop further the national chemical footprint assessment methods using Sweden as an example to enhance the precision of calculations. First, we integrate grid data on population density and distance-to-seacoast into the analytical framework to better match the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register on the sub-compartment level with USEtox toxicity characterisation factors. Second, we use the latest USEtox 2.12 model version and its more punctual North European characterisation factors. Third, we conduct trend and geographic analysis and rank Swedish facilities in terms of toxicity potential. We show that total human toxicity potential in Sweden was smaller than previously estimated when using the North European USEtox landscape settings and sloped downwards over time. We confirm toxicity potential of major pollutants in previous research papers (Zn, Hg, Pb, Ni) and find that Hg's relative human toxicity potential in a longer period can be larger than previously estimated on shorter periods. Human toxicity is estimated to be mostly non-cancer type in Sweden. Results are largely invariant to the choice of air sub-compartments. Companies in the metals manufacturing sector are estimated to have the largest human toxicity potential in Sweden in the period between 2001 and 2017 and companies in the paper manufacturing industry have the largest ecotoxicity potential. • Applying North-European USEtox factors foster Swedish chemical footprint calculations. • Precision of calculations increased by sub-compartment level air and water data. • Total point source toxicity impacts sloped downwards in the period from 2001 to 2017. • Toxicity potential of Zn, Hg, Ni, Pb confirmed, larger Hg potential estimated. • Human toxicity is highest in the SE metal sector and ecotoxicity in the paper sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies a large-scale educational expansion to assess whether shocks to educational inputs affect the academic achievement of adult education students. I analyze the effects of a Swedish program that rapidly doubled enrollment in adult education, thus straining school resources. The program targeted low-educated, unemployed adults aged 25 and older. Therefore, my analysis focuses on students under age 25 to reduce the risk that changes in the characteristics of the study sample drive my findings. First, I show that students in regions subject to stronger enrollment expansions experienced stronger negative shocks to educational inputs, including teacher credentials, per-pupil expenditure, and peer quality. Second, I show that the stronger negative shocks to these inputs coincided with larger increases in course dropout. Taken together, the two sets of results suggest a causal link between educational inputs and students' academic progress in adult education. • I study a policy that rapidly expanded secondary-level adult education in Sweden. • The expansion negatively affected educational inputs, such as teacher credentials. • The declines in educational inputs coincided with increases in course dropout. • Shocks to educational inputs thus affect the academic progress of adult learners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Proposed a two-stage optimization framework to enhance the flexibility of energy communities. • Presented a home energy management system (HEMS) incorporating solar PV, EV, heat pump, space heating, and TES. • Designed a model predictive control-based optimization algorithm for integrated energy systems. • Developed a practical algorithm to coordinate multiple HEMSs within a community energy management system. • Established a co-simulation framework to investigate energy flexibility in an energy community. Electrification of private transportation and residential heating is a potential action to decrease significantly carbon emissions. However, the lack of coordination of such emerging loads can increase stress on the power distribution grid. To this end, this paper proposes a two-stage energy management strategy, to enhance the flexibility of energy communities. First, an optimization algorithm-based model predictive control (MPC) is developed for home energy management systems (HEMS) to schedule electric vehicles (EVs) for charging and discharging in cooperation with heat pump and thermal energy storages. The objective is to reduce electricity bills and EV battery degradation costs while maintaining thermal demand. Second, the predictive coordination based on the nonlinear AC optimal power flow approach is applied to enhance the grid flexibility under a community energy management system scheme. To validate the performance of the proposed method, we develop a co-simulation framework by implementing the optimization algorithm and simulation scenarios in a Python Environment and modelling the electricity grid in the PowerFactory-DIgSILENT, which are linked together. Extensive numerical simulations are carried out under the active demand response program-based hourly electricity pricing and different weather data in Sweden. The results show that the proposed method can reduce operating costs and enhance the energy flexibility of the energy community. Moreover, it can decrease the stress on the community power grid and prevent load-shedding events compared to the non-predictive coordinated method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in travel behaviour are needed to tackle the climate impact associated with long-distance flights, including a switch to sustainable transport modes. In this paper, we analyse scenarios of carbon footprint reduction associated with a switch from flights to night trains for holidays in Europe for the case of Sweden, including outbound, inbound and domestic tourism. We use a prospective lifecycle assessment framework combined with results from a stated preference experiment to determine the impact of future mode shift behaviours. Our results indicate that a mode shift could be triggered by progressive night train policies resulting in (i) fewer transfers and (ii) price levels similar to those of flights. The shifts from flights to night trains could result in 9% lower cumulative carbon footprint in relation to a baseline travel demand scenario for the period 2025–2050. Decarbonization of long-distance travel in line with the Paris Agreement would likely require a combination of many different types of measures including a shift to low-carbon fuels. • We investigate potential emissions abatement by night trains replacing flights. • Trains could reach 22–30% of the combined market for tourism by flights and trains. • Shift to night train could reduce emissions from long-distance travel by 9%. • Decarbonization has a larger impact on carbon footprints than mode shifting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzing the COVID-19 pandemic is a critical factor in developing effective policies to deal with similar challenges in the future. However, many parameters (e.g., the actual number of infected people, the effectiveness of vaccination) are still subject to considerable debate because they are unobservable. To model a pandemic and estimate unobserved parameters, researchers use compartmental models. Most often, in such models, the transition rates are considered as constants, which allows simulating only one epidemiological wave. However, multiple waves have been reported for COVID-19 caused by different strains of the virus. This paper presents an approach based on the reconstruction of real distributions of transition rates using genetic algorithms, which makes it possible to create a model that describes several pandemic peaks. The model is fitted on registered COVID-19 cases in four countries with different pandemic control strategies (Germany, Sweden, UK, and US). Mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) was chosen as the objective function, the MAPE values of 2.168%, 2.096%, 1.208% and 1.703% were achieved for the listed countries, respectively. Simulation results are consistent with the empirical statistics of medical studies, which confirms the quality of the model. In addition to observables such as registered infected, the output of the model contains variables that cannot be measured directly. Among them are the proportion of the population protected by vaccines, the size of the exposed compartment, and the number of unregistered cases of COVID-19. According to the results, at the peak of the pandemic, between 14% (Sweden) and 25% (the UK) of the population were infected. At the same time, the number of unregistered cases exceeds the number of registered cases by 17 and 3.4 times, respectively. The average duration of the vaccine induced immune period is shorter than claimed by vaccine manufacturers, and the effectiveness of vaccination has declined sharply since the appearance of the Delta and Omicron strains. However, on average, vaccination reduces the risk of infection by about 65–70%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uneven frost heave in roads and railways is a frequent problem in cold regions leading to degradation of structures. To improve drainage, culverts are frequently integrated into road and railway embankments. The presence of culverts changes the temperature distribution in the surrounding soil as cold air passes through the culvert. Consequently, frost depth and corresponding frost heave are increased in the vicinity of the culvert compared to the rest of the structure if frost susceptible soil is present. For an accurate frost related design, information of heat balance between the culvert and the surrounding soil is needed. A field study focusing on convective heat transfer in culverts was conducted in northern Sweden by the authors. Temperatures and air velocities in culverts of three sizes (0.6, 0.8 and 3.4 m) were recorded. Analysis of obtained data is presented in this paper with emphasis on the influence of air velocity on the temperature distribution. Influence of wind on development of airflow in culverts is also addressed. Accuracy of trained gaussian process regression (GPR) models is estimated in predicting temperature distribution inside of culverts. It is concluded, based on the field measurement data, that airflow can significantly affect temperature distribution inside culverts and development of airflow in culverts is largely influenced by the orientation of the culvert in relation to the predominant wind direction. • Air flow is a significant factor in determination of thermal boundary conditions inside the culverts. • Orientation of the culvert in relation to the predominant wind direction contributes to the development of airflow inside the culverts. • Airflow inside of the culvert will influence frost depth under the culvert resulting in increased frost depth at the inlet [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local stress concentrations in some specific geometric details often play an essential role in time-dependent damage propagation. However, measured strain or stress data are generally available in locations that are not the most critical ones. Proper numerical models are thus required to aid the damage severity assessment. In this paper, a surrogate model procedure based on the local response function method is proposed to accurately predict stress time histories in particular regions of bridges through a multiscale numerical analysis. The methodology is calibrated on the basis of direct strain measurements on a railway bridge in Vänersborg, Sweden. The bridge is currently monitored with a set of strain gauges, accelerometers, and an inclinometer allowing the investigation of its in-service conditions during the train passages and the lifting of the bascule truss. The results show the reliability of the method for stress prediction in specific regions of the bridge without the availability of directly measured data together with more detailed knowledge about the stress histories that could lead to fatigue or corrosion damage. • A surrogate models procedure based on local response function method is presented. • The proposed approach is based on advanced multiscale numerical analysis. • Stress history estimations are used for fatigue cycle counting procedures. • Reliable stress history predictions are obtained at some damaged locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial capture-recapture (SCR) models are now widely used for estimating density from repeated individual spatial encounters. SCR accounts for the inherent spatial autocorrelation in individual detections by modelling detection probabilities as a function of distance between the detectors and individual activity centres. However, additional spatial heterogeneity in detection probability may still creep in due to environmental or sampling characteristics. if unaccounted for, such variation can lead to pronounced bias in population size estimates. In this paper, we address this issue by describing three Bayesian SCR models that use generalized linear mixed modelling (GLMM) approach to account for latent heterogeneity in baseline detection probability across detectors with: independent random effects (RE), spatially autocorrelated random effects (SARE) with components of prior covariance matrix modelled as a decreasing function of inter-detector distance, and a two-group finite mixture model (FM) to identify latent detectability classes of each detector. We test these models using a simulation study and an empirical application to a non-invasive genetic monitoring data set of female brown bears (Ursus arctos) in central Sweden. In the simulation study, all three models largely succeeded in mitigating the biasing effect of spatially heterogeneous detection probability on population size estimates. Overall, SARE provided the least biased population size estimates (median RB: -9% – 6%). When spatial autocorrelation in detection probability was high, SARE also performed best at predicting the spatial pattern of heterogeneity in detection probability. At intermediate levels of autocorrelation, spatially-explicit estimates of detection probability obtained with FM were more accurate than those generated by SARE and RE. The empirical example revealed patterns consistent with the results from the simulation study. We found that ignoring spatial heterogeneity in detection probability led to at least 22% lower estimate of bear population size compared to models that accounted for it (i.e., SARE and RE models). When the number of detections per detector is low (≤ 1), the GLMMs considered here may require dimension reduction of the random effects by pooling baseline detection probability parameters across neighbouring detectors ("aggregation") to avoid over-parameterization. The added complexity and computational overhead associated with SCR-GLMMs may only be justified in extreme cases of spatial heterogeneity, e.g., large clusters of inactive detectors unbeknownst to the investigator. However, even in less extreme cases, detecting and estimating spatially heterogeneous detection probability may assist in planning or adjusting monitoring schemes. • Unaccounted spatial variation in detectability can lead to biased density estimates using spatial capture-recapture. • Generalized linear mixed modelling succeeded in mitigating the biasing effect. • Estimating variation in detectability assist in planning monitoring schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Values act as driving forces for individuals to behave in a certain way or to choose certain actions. They may explain current differences of converted organic land among EU countries. In this paper, we identified and compared the types of values, economic and other, that motivate farmers to choose certified organic or conventional production systems in France, Ireland and Sweden. To identify these values, we analysed and compared attribute-consequence-value representations of the choice of production systems among farmers, using a Means-end chain approach. Seventy-eight in-depth laddering interviews were conducted to explore how farmers characterised their choice, the consequences they perceived from these characteristics and the values they associated with these consequences. The uncovered values were classified along Rokeach's typology to distinguish between instrumental and terminal values. Results indicate that both farmers with a conventional farm and farmers with a certified organic farm are driven by complex sets of financial, business, or productivity values and by non-financial, non-business, or non-productivity values. Findings are useful to policy makers and farm advisors, who can use these results to develop more efficient communication schemes to promote organic farming. The findings can also be communicated to consumers and the public in order to encourage consumption. • Organic and conventional farmers share some economic, social and lifestyle values. • Organic farmers display relatively more complex ways of reasoning, in two countries. • Our cross-country comparison can be used to adapt communication to countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate if Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified Norway lobster fishing vessels in Sweden got higher prices and sold larger quantities after certification was introduced in 2015. Using detailed daily panel data and exploiting the fact that the same fishing water contains both certified and non-certified vessels, we use a difference-in-difference model for analysing demand effects of MSC-certification. We find a price premium the first months after the launch of the certification scheme for the initial adopters. However, this price premium dissipates over time and is mainly found for trawler vessels. For trawlers, we also find a negative effect on sold quantities the first months after certification but a positive effect a few years after certification. Creelers, on the other hand, got a positive effect on quantities sold both immediately after certification and after a few years. No general effect of MSC certification is found on neither prices nor quantities when the entire period January 2012 – January 2018 is investigated. • The paper investigates effects of Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. • Effects on ex-vessel prices and quantities sold of Nephrops in Sweden are analysed. • Results show no general effect on prices or quantities of MSC certification. • Short-term and long-term effects differ. • Price increases in the short term for trawlers but not for creelers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public acceptability appears an essential condition for the success of low-carbon transition policies. In this paper, we investigate the role of self-interest on citizens' preferences for the distribution of costs and environmental benefits of energy efficiency policies. Using a discrete choice experiment on nationally representative household samples of Sweden, Italy, and the United Kingdom, we first investigate preferences for national burden-sharing rules and for the distribution of environmental benefits accruing primarily in rural and/or urban areas. We examine the role of self-interest and self-serving bias in a correlational manner by looking at the effects of income and location of residency on preferences for these policy attributes. Moreover, we investigate the effect of self-serving bias on preferences for burden-sharing rules in a causal manner by experimentally priming randomly assigned groups of participants to feel either rich or poor. Our results suggest that the accountability rule is the most popular and the equal-amount rule the least popular burden-sharing rule. Further, policies with environmental benefits accruing primarily in rural areas are least preferred. We find some evidence for self-interest, especially through our correlational approach. Finally, across country samples, our results reveal heterogeneity in preferences for policy attributes and in the prevalence of self-interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globalization and rapid advancements in the IT sector brought new challenges and intensified competition between companies, strongly highlighting the demand for Business Intelligence and Analytics in decision-making and strategy development planning. Motivated by the analysis and forecasting capabilities offered by time-series data and its limited exploitation in marketing literature, this paper introduces a multidisciplinary framework, called MULTIFOR, which aims to synthesize and deliver profound knowledge about the macroeconomic environment and the attractiveness of new target markets. MULTIFOR main objective is to fully support interested parties (i.e., industries, SMEs, scholars, local and national authorities, etc.) in their decision-making and strategy planning tasks, by providing accurate forecasts and recommendations. The proposed framework along with its Web service offers a unique solution since it encapsulates: marketing fundamentals (PESTEL analysis), open data (time-series data from open Web databases) and deep learning methods (LSTM networks) for time-series analysis and forecasting. MULTIFOR has been tested and validated through a use case on elevator and escalator (E&E) industry, which is a strong industrial sector which has important impact worldwide, with studying its scope in European markets. The research findings revealed that LSTM networks, which according to the existing literature are superior to other forecasting models, when combined with macroeconomic theory can achieve greater forecasting accuracy in identifying new international markets. In the case of MULTIFOR, the improvement of LSTM networks performance was achieved through the selection of appropriate indicators and the pre-processing of time-series data exploiting PESTEL analysis. In particular, MULTIFOR achieved approximately 70% of the 900 time-series reduction of errors in the forecasting process in time-series derived from the PESTEL analysis for European countries. Moreover, the exploitation of MULTIFOR in the E&E industry, revealed the countries of northern Europe as the most attractive markets, of which Sweden and The Netherlands stand out. • PESTEL analysis can be used to select features for the data mining process related to business internationalization. • The MULTIFOR framework based on the LSTM model, achieves an increase in performance of about 30%, managing to surpass both the LSTM model and the ARIMA model. • MULTIFOR improved by 30% the performance of "simple" LSTM RNN. • The countries of northern Europe, of which Sweden and the Netherlands stand out, are the most attractive markets in the elevator industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial turf is widely used as a playing surface for many sports, including football. In Sweden the use of artificial turf allows people to play football in regions where the climate would otherwise prevent it, and is seen as a positive development from a football perspective. However, the widespread use of artificial turf pitches comes at a cost, with microplastic pollution a prime example. The integration of environmental sustainability in the management of artificial turf is dependent on a number of factors, including a complex policy terrain, which includes different kinds of policies over several policy levels. The purpose of this paper is to investigate barriers that prevent actors within artificial turf, who are generally positive towards sustainable practices, from acting in accordance with their intentions. Therefore, the value-action gap is chosen as a frame of refence to interpret semi-structured interviews with actors managing and using artificial turf. Sportification is also an important concept, since football, and organized sport in general, has a very important role in driving the proliferation of artificial turf pitches. The results compare the view of practitioners and users, describing a number of contextual obstacles to integrating environmental sustainability in artificial turf pitch management and usage. In addition, this study also identifies a number of technical and procedural improvements, and makes recommendations to provide practitioners with ways of improving their work with artificial turf pitches. • Actors working with artificial turf face barriers construed in the value-action gap. • One of the main obstacles to environmental action is a process of sportification. • Actors working with artificial turf need to meet many different policy requirements. • Improvements to contain microplastics and spread information have been implemented. • Knowledge, resources, compromise and collaboration are needed going forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biogas solutions offer many advantages to improve sustainable development, but there is still untapped potential in its environmental performance. During biogas upgrading, CO 2 is separated from the gas to deliver a flow with high methane concentration and thus high energy content. In this practice, CO 2 is commonly emitted to the atmosphere without contributing to a net addition of climate gases because of its biological origin, being a missed opportunity for carbon capture. In this paper, CO 2 valorization is an option that has been evaluated using a qualitative and quantitative approach, taking Sweden as an example. Results showed that around 140 kt of CO 2 can potentially be captured and utilized from biogas upgrading, which can significantly increase in future scenarios. If CO 2 were turned into methane using power-to-gas technology, an additional 35% of biogas could be produced in the short term, meaning up to additional 0.7 TWh in 2020. By 2050, around 600 to 1600 kt of CO 2 could be available, depending on how well the biogas production develops and how much of the biogas is upgraded, resulting in up to 6.2 TWh of biomethane. The qualitative assessment suggested that only minor modifications in the upgrading process are required for this practice. Biogas actors are interested in getting involved in valorization projects that enhance their circular business and avoid carbon lock-in mainly to improve the environmental performance of biomethane. Moreover, the application of CO 2 valorization requires collaboration with different actors to integrate current CO 2 demand or innovative transformation technologies. [Display omitted] • 140 kt of CO 2 could be obtained from biogas plants with an important rise in the future. • Future biomethane production could deliver from 600 to 1600 kt of CO 2 for valorization. • Higher CO 2 potential from biogas in the southern and central parts of Sweden. • In the short term, CO 2 methanation from biogas could provide 35% additional biogas. • Actors perceive CCU as an opportunity to enhance the circularity of biogas solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluations of adults in formal education (AE) are typically based on earnings measured 5–10 years after program enrollment. This paper uses propensity score matching to estimate returns up to 24 years after enrollment, and explore results for 15 cohorts of AE enrollees in Sweden 1994–2008 with at least a 10-year follow-up period. The results indicate substantially higher payoffs in absolute terms after the maximum length of follow-up compared with after 10 years. There is weak support that multiplier effects increase the percentage returns to AE over time, regardless of gender or whether the level of AE is college or high school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The critical forest biomass harvest (CBH) and critical load concepts are similar. • The CBH indicator does not account for all relevant processes. • CBH correlates poorly to forest soil acid-base status and edaphic conditions. • CBH cannot be used for management advice to forest owners. • CBH does not fulfill the demands for forest biomass harvesting guidelines. There is a growing societal demand to increase the use of forest biomass for substitution of fossil fuels. The production of this biomass must be sustainable and an indicator for critical biomass harvesting (CBH) has been suggested in order to sustain forest soil fertility and mitigate soil acidification at whole-tree harvesting. The CBH indicator is based on an acidity mass balance approach in line with the critical load of acid deposition (CL) concept. Countries like Sweden, the Netherlands and the state of Quebec, Canada apply such mass balance approaches for developing forest biomass harvesting guidelines. The implementation of this type of policy instrument may restrict the use of harvest residues for bioenergy and thereby the substitution of fossil fuels. It may as well affect the forestry sector revenue negatively. To maintain credibility for enforced limitations, it is important that the risk assessment and suggested policy implications are based on solid scientific methods and assumptions. The mass balance approach have been criticized for being too uncertain and not sufficiently validated for being used to guide ecosystem management. In this paper we use published Swedish data on soils, acid deposition, forest production and information from international scientific literature to critically examine the CBH indicator. We conclude that the CBH indicator 1) does not account for all relevant processes 2) it exaggerates the sensitivity and correlates poorly to actual forest soil acid-base status and edaphic conditions and 3) data availability does not allow the indicator to be calculated at a high enough spatial resolution for advice on management for forest owners. The concerns for the mass-balance approach and CBH indicator are discussed in an international perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting hydrodynamic forces from ship waves along a waterway is essential for managing a sustainable shoreline in fairways. In this context, a numerical model can be a useful tool for calculating ship waves in fairways with complex geometry. XBeach is a numerical model offering the potential to be a one-tool solution for simulating ship waves from the ship to the shore. However, XBeach has not been evaluated against field measurements of ship waves. Thus, the objective of this paper is (1) to compare XBeach against high-quality field measurements of ship waves and (2) to assess its general applicability to ship wave simulations through an extensive sensitivity analysis with regard to the main input parameters. Water level measurements from 42 passages of the M/S Baltic Princess in the Furusund navigational fairway in the Stockholm Archipelago were chosen to test and evaluate XBeach. The results showed that XBeach was able to generate and propagate the primary and secondary waves. Primary waves were reproduced well with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 3 cm for the drawdown height. The overall secondary wave field pattern was represented by XBeach; however, for the largest, single divergent wave comparison for height, period, and timing showed deviation from the observations. Overall, XBeach was found to be a robust model for ship wave applications, only requiring input data typically available. Sensitivity analysis for a generic hull, derived from the type of vessel studied and with the corresponding dimensions as the real hull, showed similar results enabling robust and reliable simulations without access to detailed technical drawings. • The non-hydrostatic numerical model, XBeach, was used for simulating ship waves. • XBeach was validated with field measurements of 42 passages from conventional ships. • Simulations showed a good agreement for primary waves. • XBeach showed an overall good behaviour in simulating the secondary wave field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition to a low-carbon economy to achieve the Paris Agreement goal requires substantial investments. The green bond market shows good potential to help mobilize financial sources towards sustainable investments. In this paper, we compare the uptake of green bonds in Norway and Sweden from 2013 till 2019, with the aim to understand what drives the green bond market. Our study is one of the first comparative analyses specifically designed to explain differences in green bond uptake between two similar financial markets. The analysis can help us to identify factors that are transferable to other countries and that therefore can be important for facilitating the growth of green bonds in different markets. Data shows that there has been a faster growth in issuances in Sweden than Norway, and especially for the corporate sector and municipalities. When interviewing experienced green bond market participants in Norway and Sweden, we find that likely explanations are a business culture and financial institutions more focused on sustainability in Sweden, as well as a larger and more diversified corporate sector. In Norway, green bonds uptake may have been hampered by competition with high yield investments in oil & gas and shipping, a 'green' energy sector that considers green bonds to be superfluous, and many municipalities that are too small for green bond issuance. The experience from Sweden indicates that other countries wanting to facilitate uptake of green bonds should emphasize leadership on sustainability, collaboration between green bond issuers and investors, and active communication, high visibility, and thorough disclosure of sustainable finance activities. • Both Norway and Sweden are pioneers on green bonds, but the market has grown faster in Sweden. • Business culture and financial institutions are more focused on sustainability in Sweden. • Sweden has a larger and more diversified corporate sector. • Leadership on sustainability and issuer-investor collaboration will facilitate green bonds. • Active communication and high visibility of green bonds activities will stimulate the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]