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Den nasjonale effekten av klimaendringer på økonomisk vekst: En analyse av hvordan temperatur og nedbør påvirker økonomisk verdiskaping i Norges fylker
Full text linkDenne studien undersøker forholdet mellom temperatur, nedbør og økonomisk vekst på fylkesnivå i Norge i perioden 1997 til 2019. Datagrunnlag fra Statistisk Sentralbyrå og Norsk Klimaservicesenter danner grunnlaget for paneldataanalyser ved bruk av tre ulike regresjonsmodeller. Studien anvender modeller med kvadratiske og interaktive ledd, med både additive og multiplikative faste effekter for å undersøke effekten av temperatur og nedbør på økonomisk produksjon i Norges fylker. Videre er det gjennomført næringsspesifikke analyser på primær-, sekundær- og tertiærnæringene for å undersøke hvordan effekten varierer for ulike sektorer.
Funnene fra analysen viser at temperatur, nedbør og deres interaksjonseffekter har en signifikant betydning for økonomisk vekst i Norges fylker. Effektene varierer imidlertid i stor grad for de ulike næringsgruppene. Ulike sektorer dominerer i ulike deler av landet, og de klimatiske forholdene varierer i stor grad fra nord til sør. Dette betyr at klimaendringene potensielt kan forsterke de regionale forskjellene i økonomisk utvikling. Totalt sett viser resultatene at Norge som helhet befinner seg under de estimerte optimale temperaturverdiene, gitt nedbørsmengdene som observeres. Dette innebærer at en moderat temperaturøkning, isolert sett, fremdeles kan bidra til positiv økonomisk vekst i flere regioner. Ved en temperaturøkning fra 3,16 °C til 4,16 °C, gitt en konstant nedbørsmengde på 120 mm, estimeres en positiv økning i vekstraten i BNP per innbygger på 0,68 %. Tilsvarende beregning for primær-, sekundær- og tertiærnæringene viser at effekten i stor grad varierer mellom næringene.
Disse funnene kan ha viktige implikasjoner for den fremtidige økonomiske veksten i Norge. Resultatene viser at klimaet påvirker økonomisk produksjon på komplekse og ikke-lineære måter, der både nivået på temperatur og nedbør, og interaksjonen mellom dem har betydning. Dette innebærer at økonomien i ulike regioner ikke bare vil reagere ulikt på klimaendringene, men også at virkningen kan være positiv i enkelte tilfeller og negativ i andre. Fremtidige analyser og politiske tiltak bør derfor ikke bare ta hensyn til totaleffekter på nasjonalt nivå, men også vurdere underliggende sektor- og regionalforskjeller som kan skjule betydelig sårbarhet.
Nøkkelord: klimaendringer, økonomisk vekst, temperatur, nedbør, BNP, Norges fylke
Seasonal dynamics in RNA:DNA ratios of marine microbial communities in a high latitude estuary
Full text linkMicroorganisms are key players in marine ecosystems, as they form the basis of food webs and drive biogeochemical cycling. Global warming increases sea surface temperatures and the frequency of marine heatwaves, but the effect on marine microbes is still not well understood. To predict future changes of marine ecosystems, it is therefore important to understand the direct impact of increased temperatures on microorganisms. A recent study on soil microorganisms reported a reduction of ribosomes with increasing temperature. Ribosomes are key cellular complexes responsible for protein biosynthesis, and a reduction of ribosomes was proposed as a universal physiological response of microorganisms to warming.
The objective of this thesis was to adopt and further develop a nucleic acid extraction protocol used to investigate temperature effects on soil microorganisms, to be applied on marine microorganisms. This method allowed me to investigate the effect of temperature on the RNA:DNA ratios of microbial communities in the high latitude estuary, Håkøybotn (Tromsø, Norway). The RNA:DNA ratios served as a proxy for cellular ribosome contents, and I tested the hypothesis that ribosome contents of marine microorganisms are lower in summer (at higher temperatures) compared to winter (at lower temperatures). Such a reduction of ribosomes with increased temperature could lead to alterations of energy transfer efficiency in marine food webs and biogeochemical cycling. The microbial communities and environmental parameters such as temperature, nitrate, phosphate, and silicate concentrations, Chlorophyll a, salinity and pH were sampled over eight months, from June 2024 to January 2025. In total, 19 samplings were conducted. The water samples were sequentially filtered to separate microorganisms into four size fractions (10 – 90, 3 – 10, 0.2 – 3, and 0.2 – 90 µm) with 6 replicates per fraction. RNA and DNA was extracted from >200 samples (i.e. all 10 – 90 and 0.2 – 3 µm fractions and up to 6 replicates per fraction). Additionally, 18S and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was performed on selected samples to analyse seasonal microbial community shifts.
Most measured parameters displayed seasonal patterns: Water temperature ranged from 13.3 to 2.6°C, nutrient concentrations were low in summer and high in winter and Chlorophyll a concentrations peaked in August and September. A weak but significant negative correlation was found between temperature and the RNA:DNA ratio for the smallest size fraction (0.2 – 3 µm), indicating that temperature might influence the ribosomal content of marine microorganisms, as hypothesized. However, this patter was not observed in the large fraction (10 – 90 µm), but possibly due to lack of data obtained during the winter month. The observed seasonal shifts in the microbial communities could potentially also have influenced the measured RNA:DNA ratios. However, additional knowledge regarding varying RNA:DNA ratios between taxa is needed to determine a connection between dynamics in RNA:DNA and community composition.
In light of recent temperature records in the Norwegian Sea it is important to gain knowledge on the physiological response of marine microbes and their possible consequences for ecosystem functioning. The developed method was adaptable to changing conditions in the marine ecosystem and could be used for future research on marine microbial communities
Filling the human rights implementation gap: Role of NGOs in securing reproductive rights for Ukrainian refugees in Poland
Full text linkIn response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Poland became a major host country for Ukrainian refugees. While the Polish state implemented a range of support measures, access to reproductive rights was notably absent from its crisis response, creating a significant gap in protection and service provision. This thesis examines how non-governmental organisations in Poland have responded to that gap. Adopting a qualitative case study approach, the research analyses the work of two NGOs actively engaged in supporting reproductive rights for Ukrainian refugees. It draws on both interviews with NGOs' staff and diverse secondary sources. The analysis is guided by reproductive justice theory and a typology of NGO–state relations, offering a nuanced understanding of how NGOs operate within and around existing state structures to address reproductive health needs in a politically and culturally sensitive environment. It explores both the barriers Ukrainian refugee women face in securing reproductive rights and the challenges NGOs encounter in supporting them, as well as how NGOs navigate these obstacles. The study further investigates the insights that the work of Polish NGOs can offer to the broader discourse on NGOs as gap-fillers in the implementation of human rights
Pharmacological Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease in Early Stages: A Literature Review
Full text linkBackground: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the leading cause of dementia worldwide. As the global population ages, early diagnosis and treatment have become increasingly important. While symptomatic pharmacological therapies are widely used, novel disease-modifying drugs have emerged in recent years, with uncertain clinical efficacy.
Objective: This thesis aimed to review and evaluate the efficacy and safety of available pharmacological treatments for patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed on 3 September, 2023, yielding 3,005 articles. After applying strict eligibility criteria, 13 studies were included. Data were extracted and evaluated both individually and thematically. The quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE framework for each included article.
Results: Cholinesterase inhibitors, particularly donepezil, demonstrated consistent symptomatic benefits in cognitive outcomes and remain the most evidence-based treatment for early-stage AD. In contrast, disease-modifying therapies such as aducanumab, donanemab, and lecanemab showed significant reductions in amyloid burden. However, their clinical effects were variable and associated adverse events – especially amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) – raised safety concerns. Among the disease-modifying agents, lecanemab showed the most consistent clinical benefit.
Conclusion: Symptomatic treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors remains the cornerstone of pharmacological management in early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Although recent disease-modifying agents demonstrate promising biomarker effects, their inconsistent clinical efficacy and safety profiles currently limit their use in clinical care. Further research is needed to clarify long-term outcomes, explore multimodal approaches, and develop biomarker-driven strategies for individualised treatment
Numerical simulations of sheath-interchange turbulence at the boundary of magnetically confined plasmas
Full text linkControlled thermonuclear fusion holds great potential as an abundant, safe and environmentally friendly source of electrical energy. One of the most promising approach to harness fusion energy is trough the use of tokamak, a machine with a strong toroidal magnetic field. However the intrinsic curvature of the tokamak leads to an interchange instability, akin to the Rayleigh Taylor instability, in regions with unfavorable curvature. This eventually leads the plasma to become turbulent, resulting in enhanced cross-field transport to the material surfaces of the reactor. In the Scrape-Off Layer (SOL) the magnetic field lines intersect material walls, leading to the formation of sheaths, which influence the underlying turbulent fluctuations. The interaction between the sheaths and the interchange motion is whats studied in this thesis. Parameterizing the dynamics along the field lines leads to a set of two 2D coupled advection governing the evolution of the particle density and the electric drift vorticity in the drift-plane.
In this thesis the model equations describing the sheath-interchange instability is derived from first principals using drift-ordering. A linear stability analysis pursuit, followed by the theory behind the code developed in Julia alongside this thesis. The code is thoroughly validated, with one of the test focusing on the velocity and evolution of isolated blob structures. All this, leading up to gradient-driven sheath-interchange turbulence simulations, in which statistical properties are investigated. To conduct the statistical analysis long timeseries are required, hence there has been a focus in this thesis on developing efficient code. The code is also developed with the intent of being modular such that it can be used in the future.Controlled thermonuclear fusion holds great potential as an abundant, safe and environmentally friendly source of electrical energy. One of the most promising approach to harness fusion energy is trough the use of tokamak, a machine with a strong toroidal magnetic field. However the intrinsic curvature of the tokamak leads to an interchange instability, akin to the Rayleigh Taylor instability, in regions with unfavorable curvature. This eventually leads the plasma to become turbulent, resulting in enhanced cross-field transport to the material surfaces of the reactor. In the Scrape-Off Layer (SOL) the magnetic field lines intersect material walls, leading to the formation of sheaths, which influence the underlying turbulent fluctuations. The interaction between the sheaths and the interchange motion is whats studied in this thesis. Parameterizing the dynamics along the field lines leads to a set of two 2D coupled advection governing the evolution of the particle density and the electric drift vorticity in the drift-plane.
In this thesis the model equations describing the sheath-interchange instability is derived from first principals using drift-ordering. A linear stability analysis pursuit, followed by the theory behind the code developed in Julia alongside this thesis. The code is thoroughly validated, with one of the test focusing on the velocity and evolution of isolated blob structures. All this, leading up to gradient-driven sheath-interchange turbulence simulations, in which statistical properties are investigated. To conduct the statistical analysis long timeseries are required, hence there has been a focus in this thesis on developing efficient code. The code is also developed with the intent of being modular such that it can be used in the future
Tilbakegående avgiftsoppgjør ved inntreden og uttreden av fellesregistrering
Full text linkTema for avhandlingen er tilbakegående avgiftsoppgjør ved inntreden og uttreden av fellesregistrering. Det tas utgangspunkt i fem ulike typetilfeller for inntreden og uttreden, med særlig fokus på de tilfeller hvor anskaffende selskap har vært tidligere avgiftsregistrert
Kan behandling av personopplysninger forankres i samtykke som behandlingsgrunnlag der dette er innhentet gjennom en nettjenestes "samtykke eller betal"-modell?
Full text linkAvhandlingen tar for seg om nettjenester kan innhente samtykke til behandling av personopplysninger gjennom en "samtykke eller betal"-modell. Slike "samtykke eller betal"-modeller innhenter samtykke for behandling av personopplysninger i sammenheng med formålet om å gjennomføre en adferdsbasert markedsføring. Gjennom en vurdering av rettstilstanden vil de sentrale vilkårene som stilles til et samtykke innenfor personvernforordningen bli vurdert for å svare ut problemstillingen. Dette innebærer en vurdering av krav til frivillighet, spesifiksjon, informasjon og utvetydighet. Avgjørelser og uttalelser fra ulike EU-organer vil bli benyttet i vurderingen av rettstilstanden. Sentrale EU-organer har gitt utalelser som er sentrale for å svare ut avhandlingens problemstilling. Et samtykke som innhentes gjennom en "samtykke eller betal"-modell, vil vanskelig kunne være tilstrekkelig gyldig. En slik konklusjon bygger på de vilkår som stilles til et gyldig samtykke. Forholdet til kravene om spesifikasjon, informasjon og utvetydighet vil virke inn på konklusjonen. Kravet til frivillighet rundt samtykket vil derimot ha størst betydning for konklusjonen, og det er her det foreligger flest tvilsomme aspekter ved å avgi et samtykke innenfor en slik modell. Avhandlingen vil også belyse hvordan en nettjeneste vil kunne sikre et gyldig samtykke, ved å imøtegå noen av de tvilsomme aspektene ved en "samtykke eller betal"-modell. Avslutningsvis vil et av de sentrale formålene med personvernforordningen bli belyst for å kunne tilføre andre aspekter til den konklusjonen som fremkommer
Mellom maskene: Persona og karakterkonstruksjon i Yasins En paus från internet - Del 1
Full text linkDenne masteroppgaven utforsker den svenske rapperen Yasin sin EP En paus från internet – Del 1. Personaen står sentralt i hiphop, og oppgaven undersøker derfor hvordan jeget fremstiller seg selv gjennom låtene. Analysen fokuserer på jegets konstruksjon innenfor rapkonvensjonene og de intertekstuelle referansene og maskene det tar i bruk. Gjennom teori om raplyrikk, gangsterrapsjangeren og karakterisering, viser oppgaven hvordan en kompleks karakter blir skapt ved bruk av referanser, masker og iscenesetting. I oppgaven blir EP-ens fem låter kronologisk analysert, der man ser på de ulike teknikkene som tas i bruk i karakterkonstruksjonen av jeget. I analysen avdekkes et komplekst og mangesidig jeg som avsløres, og blir forsøkt skjult, ved hjelp av referansene og maskene jeget bruker. Kjernen i oppgaven fokuserer på identitetsforhandlingene og samspillet som skjer innenfor rapkonvensjonene med vold, kriminalitet og maskulinitet på den ene siden og sårbarhet, familieliv og åpenhet om psykisk helse på den andre siden.This thesis explores the Swedish rapper Yasins’ EP En paus från internet – Del 1. The persona is central in hip hop, and the thesis investigates how the speaker presents itself through the songs. The analysis focuses on the construction of the lyrical subject within the conventions of rap and the intertextual references and masks it uses. The theoretical framework in the thesis is rap poetry, the gangster rap genre and characterization, which will be used to show how a complex character is made with references, masks and staging. The five songs on the EP will be chronologically analyzed, where it will examine the various techniques used in character construction. A complex and versatile character is revealed in the analysis, which is concealed and exposed with different uses of masks and references. The core of the thesis focuses on identity negotiation and the interactions within the rap conventions with violence, crime and masculinity on one side and vulnerability, family life and openness about mental health on the other side
LLMs and Online Privacy: Toward Automated Relevance Assessment
Full text linkAs digital footprints grow, individuals face increasing challenges in understanding and managing the personal information available about them online. The OPP tool addresses this by retrieving public URLs related to a user's identity. This thesis enhances OPP by integrating a Large Language Model to automatically assess the relevance of these search results. The project explores how prompt engineering and contextual information, such as user profiles and filters, can improve LLM-based relevance scoring. A redesigned system architecture was implemented, featuring components for prompt generation, result ranking, and user interaction. Five prompt strategies were designed, and three of them were evaluated through system-based and user-based experiments. Results showed that the LLM could personalize relevance scoring effectively, though it exhibited sensitivity to negative context and inconsistencies across prompts. The evaluation also identified trade-offs in execution time, suggesting practical considerations for real-world deployment. Overall, this work contributes to ongoing research at the intersection of LLMs, information retrieval, and privacy tools by demonstrating how automatic relevance assessment can empower users to gain clearer insight into their digital presence
Promotion of beta cell proliferation through DYRK kinase inhibition using the marine natural product breitfussin C
Full text linkPro-inflammatory cytokines, like interleukin-1 beta and interferon gamma, are known to activate
signalling pathways causing pancreatic beta cell death and dysfunction, contributing to the onset
of diabetes. Targeting cytokine signalling pathways offers a potential strategy to slow or even halt
disease progression, reducing reliance on exogenous insulin and improving glucose regulation. This
study explores the protective and proliferative effects of breitfussin C (BfC), a natural compound
isolated from the Arctic marine hydrozoan Thuiaria breitfussi, on pancreatic beta cells exposed to pro inflammatory cytokines. Using the beta cell line RIN-M5F, we assessed the protective effects of BfC
through a MTS assay for cell viability, caspase 3/7 activity for apoptosis, and EdU incorporation and cell
cycle distribution for proliferation. Additionally, we investigated BfC’s inhibitory effects on the DYRK
family of kinases using kinase activity and binding assays, western blotting, and docking simulations.
Our findings reveal that BfC treatment effectively increases beta cell proliferation and counteracts
cytokine-induced decrease in proliferation. The proliferative effect is associated with inhibition of
DYRK kinases and a subsequent decrease in the cell cycle inhibitor p27KIP.These results suggest
that BfC mediates beta cell-protective effect by promoting proliferation through DYRK inhibition,
highlighting its potential as a molecular starting point for the development of a therapeutic agent
against diabetes