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Red deer in confined nature areas have smaller ranges and move less than red deer in unconfined areas
Full text linkFenced areas are commonly used for conservation purposes or to prevent human-wildlife conflicts. However, their use is controversial since they create barriers blocking the movements of terrestrial species, thereby potentially impeding their biological needs and ecological functions. Using >440,000 GPS positions of 37 female red deer (Cervus elaphus) from 3 fenced and 3 unfenced populations in Denmark, we calculated daily and monthly range areas, hourly and daily step length, hourly turning angles and activity (accelerometer data) to quantify the impact of fencing on deer space use and movement at different spatiotemporal scales. Using additive mixed-effects models, we investigated how range areas and movement behavior varied according to the presence or absence of fencing, while accounting for seasonal variation, supplementary feeding, age class, forest cover, and population density. Despite all fenced areas by far exceeding range sizes of unfenced hinds, unfenced hinds had >4-fold larger range areas and moved twice as large distances per day and hour than fenced hinds, with stronger seasonal variation in unfenced compared to fenced areas. However, fenced and unfenced hinds had similar average turning angles and activity levels. Our findings show that confined population space resulted in reduced space use and mobility without affecting total, seasonal and diel activity patterns strongly. This points to the necessity for an increased understanding of confinement effects on animal movements and behavior, which is especially important in the light of planned rewilding projects based on fenced wildlife across the globe.publishedVersio
The Use of Digital Resources to Teach English in Norwegian Primary Schools: A Study of Teachers´ Experiences
Full text linkDigitale ressurser, som for eksempel iPad, digitale interaktive tavler og digitale læringsplattformer er mye brukt i grunnskoleutdanningen. Denne studien undersøker hvordan lærere i norsk grunnskole opplever å bruke digitale ressurser i undervisning i engelskfaget. Igjennom en spørreundersøkelse og tre semi-strukturerte intervjuer med engelsklærere som jobber på 1.-7. trinn på norsk grunnskole har det blitt samlet inn data knyttet til lærernes erfaringer og tanker rundt bruken av digitale ressurser i engelskundervisningen deres.
Resultatene fra datainnsamlingen viser at engelsklærerne som deltok i denne undersøkelsen bruker digitale ressurser, som blant annet digitale læringsplattformer som Skolen Min og Salaby, YouTube og forskjellige apper, ofte i deres engelskundervisning. I tillegg forteller lærerne at de erfarer at digitale ressurser gir mange gode muligheter for læring, som for eksempel hvordan digitale ressurser bidrar til visuell og auditiv støtte for de ulike nivåene av engelskelever i klasserommet. På en annen side forteller engelsklærerne at de også møter på utfordringer knyttet til digitale ressurser i klasserommet. De erfarer at bruken til digitale ressurser kan føre til distraksjoner og at noen av de digitale læringsplattformene ikke er godt nok utviklet enda.
Denne studien adresserer også faktumet at lærerne opplever at de har for lite trening i bruken av digitale ressurser i klasserommet. De beskriver hvordan de ønsker å videreutvikle deres digitale kompetanse for å kunne nyttiggjøre de digitale ressursene til deres fulle potensiale.Digital resources, such as iPads, digital interactive screens, and digital learning platforms, are frequently used in primary school education. This study explores the teachers in Norwegian primary school´s use of digital resources in the English subject. Through a questionnaire and three semi-structured interviews with English teachers who currently work in Norwegian primary schools in years 1-7, this research has collected data regarding the English teachers´ experiences and beliefs about using digital resources in their English teaching.
The results show that the English teachers who participated in this study utilise digital resources, such as digital learning platforms like Skolen Min and Salaby, YouTube, and apps among others, frequently in their English teaching. Additionally, the teachers express how they experience a lot of learning opportunities, such as how digital resources offer visual and auditory support for the different levels of English learners in the classroom. However, the teachers also express how they face challenges in particular how digital resources can be a distraction in the classroom and how some of the digital learning platforms seem underdeveloped.
This study also addresses the fact that teachers experience a lack of training in the use of digital resources in primary school classrooms. They express how they would like to develop their digital competence to utilise the digital resources in the classroom to their full potential
Exploring local collaboration between Healthy Living Centres and the welfare service to support young people receiving disability benefits: a qualitative study in Innlandet, Norway.
Full text linkTitle: Exploring local collaboration between Healthy Living Centres and the welfare service to support young people on disability benefit: a qualitative study in Innlandet, Norway
Background: The proportion of young people on disability benefit is increasing in Norwegian society. Closer cooperation between the health sector and employment and welfare sectors (NAV) is being promoted to increase the proportion participating in work or education. Healthy Living Centres (HLC) have been identified as important partners in these efforts.
Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the extent to which there was interaction between HLCs and NAV locally in relation to the group of young disability benefit recipients.
Method: A qualitative approach was used to collect data using semi-structured interviews. Seven interviews were conducted and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, according to a six step model.
Results: There were variations among municipalities in terms of how, and whether, cooperation existed between the HLC and NAV. This was largely influenced by how the HLC and NAV were organized within the municipalities, which often related to the available resources and priorities set by the leadership in the municipality. HLCs with larger positions and more employees tended to be more engaged in closer cooperation and projects with NAV. Participants recognized the need for closer collaboration between these organizations, as the HLC can contribute in many cases.
Conclusion: The need for coordinated services for young people is increasing, and the HLC can be a contributor in this regard. Although municipal considerations are fundamental, there is a need for clear guidelines on how to collaborate. Simple forms of communication are necessary, along with clarifications on when and how contact should occur, regular meeting points, and resources must be prioritized to work on preventive health-promoting efforts within municipalities if young people in this situation are to be helped back into education and/or work.
From a public health perspective, HLCs have the potential to support young people on disability benefits. However, there needs to be increased awareness and facilitation efforts from local organizations so that there is recognition of HLCs as suitable and appropriate sources of support for young adults. Further research on the ways in which HLCs can offer support through intersectoral collaboration with NAV would help in this regard
Can complex pricing send skiers off-piste? The impact of price complexity on fairness perceptions: evidence from Norwegian ski resorts
Full text linkPriser i alpinanlegg består ofte av flere komponenter eller dynamiske prismodeller, noe som kan gjøre det vanskelig for kundene å forstå den totale prisen. Denne studien undersøker hvordan priskompleksitet påvirker kundenes oppfatning av prisrettferdighet og deres kjøpsintensjon i norske alpinanlegg. En nettbasert spørreundersøkelse med 511 respondenter ble gjennomført ved hjelp av tolv ulike og tilfeldig fordelte versjoner av spørreskjemaet. Respondenter fra hele Norge vurderte ulike nivåer av priskompleksitet basert på værrelaterte rabatter knyttet til temperatur, nedbør og vind. Deltakerne vurderte hvor komplekse prisene fremsto, hvor rettferdige de var, og hvor sannsynlig det var at de ville kjøpe heiskort dersom betingete rabatter ble innført, noe som ga grunnlag for kvantitativ analyse.
Funnene i denne oppgaven indikerer at høyere opplevd priskompleksitet var signifikant tilknyttet lavere opplevd prisrettferdighet. I tillegg førte større kompleksitet til lavere kjøpsintensjon. Disse funnene tyder på at når kunder opplever prisstrukturer som kompliserte eller vanskelige å forstå, er de mer tilbøyelige til å oppfatte prisene som urettferdige og mindre villige til å kjøpe. Teoretisk bidrar studien til eksisterende litteratur om prissetting og forbrukeratferd ved å identifisere priskompleksitet som en nøkkelfaktor som kan svekke opplevd rettferdighet og opplevd verdi, noe som samlet sett reduserer kjøpsintensjonen. Praktisk sett antyder resultatene at skianlegg bør forenkle prisstrukturene og øke pristransparens for å styrke kundenes opplevd rettferdighet og verdi og dermed fremme en sterkere kjøpsmotivasjon.In the skiing industry, pricing often involves multiple components or dynamic pricing structures, which can complicate customers understanding of the total price. This study investigates how price complexity influences customers perceptions of price fairness and their purchase intentions in Norwegian ski resorts. An online survey with 511 respondents was conducted using twelve different surveys versions, of which one was selected randomly for each participant. Respondents from across Norway rated pricing schemes based on weather-related discounts for temperature, precipitation, and wind. Participants rated the complexity of such pricing scenarios, their perceived fairness, and their likelihood of purchasing a ski pass if conditional discounts were implemented, providing quantitative data for analysis.
The findings of this thesis indicate that higher perceived price complexity is significantly associated with lower perceived price fairness. Additionally, greater price complexity corresponded with significantly reduced customer buying intentions. These findings suggest that when customers find different pricing scenarios complicated or hard to understand, they are more likely to view the prices as unfair and are less likely to make a purchase. Theoretically, the study contributes to the literature on pricing strategy and consumer behavior by identifying price complexity as a key factor that can undermine perceived fairness and perceived value, which together reduce purchase intentions. Practically, the results encourage ski resort managers to simplify pricing structures and improve price transparency to increase public perceptions of fairness and value, thus encouraging stronger purchase intentions
Barnas møte med heilskapleg seksualitetsundervising i naturfag: Ei samanlikning av læreplanar frå Noreg, Sverige og Namibia
Full text linkI denne masteroppgåva har eg sett på den heilskaplege seksualitetsundervisinga i læreplanane for barneskulen i Noreg, Sverige og Namibia ved å bruke UNESCO et al. (2018) si rettleiing for god og heilskapleg seksualitetsundervising som analytisk rammeverk. I tillegg har eg hatt eit ekstra blikk mot naturfaget si rolle i heilskapleg seksualitetsundervising, og om faget tek omsyn til den type læringsprogresjon som rettleiinga anbefaler. Metoden som vært nytta er kvalitativ innhaldsanalyse. Der resultata frå analysen blir vist både kvalitativt og kvantitativt i form av tekst, tabellar og figurar.
Resultata viser at dei tre læreplanane er heilskaplege innan seksualitetsundervisinga, men at det varierer kor mykje dei ulike læreplanane vektlegg dei ulike temaa som rettleiinga anbefaler. Naturfag har hatt ei spesiell rolle i seksualitetsundervisinga opp i gjennom historia, og er fortsett det faget som dominerer undervisinga ute i skulane. Overraskande nok er det samfunnsfaget som dominerer seksualitetsundervisinga både i den norske og den svenske læreplanen om ein ser på mengda kompetansemål og spreiing innan ulike tema. Medan i den namibiske læreplanen er det naturfaget som dominerer. Likskapen mellom dei tre læreplanane er at naturfaget har ei tydeleg overvekt av dei biologiske aspekta for seksualitetsundervisinga, noko som ikkje er eit overraskande resultat. Det norske og det namibiske naturfaget er begge heilskaplege innan seksualitetsundervisinga, og har ei spreiing innan temaa frå rettleiinga til UNESCO et al. (2018). Det svenske naturfaget derimot har nokre manglar når det gjeld tema, og blir dermed ikkje heilskapleg.In this master’s thesis, I have examined comprehensive sexuality education in the primary school curricula of Norway, Sweden, and Namibia, using the guidance provided by UNESCO et al. (2018) for comprehensive sexuality education as an analytical framework. In addition, I have taken a closer look at the role of science education in comprehensive sexuality education, and whether the subject aligns with the type of learning progression recommended by the guidance. The method used is qualitative content analysis, with results presented both qualitatively and quantitatively in the form of text, tables, and figures.
The results show that all three curricula are comprehensive in their approach to sexuality education, but they vary in how much emphasis they place on the different themes recommended by the guidance. Science has played a particular role in sexuality education throughout history and continues to be the dominant subject for this teaching in schools. Surprisingly, social studies is the dominant subject for sexuality education in both the Norwegian and Swedish curricula, when looking at the number of competences aims and their distribution across different themes. In the Namibian curriculum, however, science is the dominant subject. A similarity between the three curricula is that science has a clear emphasis on the biological aspects of sexuality education, which is not a surprising finding. The Norwegian and Namibian science curricula are both comprehensive in their approach to sexuality education and show coverage across the themes from the UNESCO et al. (2018) guidance. The Swedish science curriculum, on the other hand, has some gaps in terms of themes and is therefore not considered comprehensive
Medisindispensere i hjemmetjenesten - Erfaringer, praksis og organisering i møtet med velferdsteknologi.
Full text linkDenne masteroppgaven undersøker hvordan elektroniske medisindispensere som velferdsteknologisk løsning påvirker hjemmetjenesten, med særlig fokus på relasjonell omsorg, arbeidsflyt og organisering av tjenestene. Gjennom en kvalitativ casestudie med semistrukturerte intervjuer av syv kandidater fra tre ulike kommuner, belyser oppgaven hvordan helsepersonell erfarer at teknologien endrer deres arbeidshverdag og relasjonen til brukerne.
Studien tar utgangspunkt i et teoretisk rammeverk bestående av sosioteknisk systemteori, diffusjonsteori, teknologiakseptmodellen og teorien om normalisering av praksis. Funnene viser at medisindispensere kan bidra til økt effektivitet ved å redusere behovet for rutinebesøk, og fremmer brukernes selvstendighet og trygghet. Samtidig peker informantene på at tiden som frigjøres ofte fylles med nye administrative oppgaver, og at redusert fysisk tilstedeværelse kan svekke muligheten for klinisk vurdering og relasjonell omsorg. Det fremkommer også at teknologien påvirker opplevelsen av yrkesrolle og organisasjonsstruktur.
Oppgaven konkluderer med at medisindispensere har potensial til å styrke pasienters livskvalitet og bidra til en mer bærekraftig tjeneste, men dette forutsetter helhetlig implementering, tilstrekkelig opplæring og tett oppfølging. Teknologien må forstås og anvendes som et supplement til relasjonell omsorg – ikke som en erstatning. En vellykket implementering krever innsikt i hvordan tekniske, sosiale og organisatoriske faktorer samvirker i praksis.This master's thesis examines how electronic medication dispensers, as a welfare technology solution, impact home care services, with particular focus on relational care, workflow, and service organization. Through a qualitative case study based on semi-structured interviews with seven candidates from three different municipalities, the thesis explores how healthcare personnel experience the ways in which the technology alters their work routines and relationships with service users.
The study is grounded in a theoretical framework consisting of Sociotechnical Systems Theory, Diffusion of Innovations, the Technology Acceptance Model, and Normalization Process Theory. Findings show that medication dispensers can improve efficiency by reducing the need for routine visits, and they enhance users’ independence and sense of security. However, the candidates also report that the time saved is often replaced by new administrative tasks, and reduced physical presence may weaken both clinical observation and relational care. The technology also influences perceptions of professional roles and organizational structure.
The thesis concludes that while medication dispensers have the potential to enhance patient quality of life and support a more sustainable service model, successful implementation requires a holistic approach, sufficient training, and close follow-up. The technology should be understood and applied as a supplement to relational care, not as a replacement. Effective integration depends on an understanding of the interplay between technical, social, and organizational factors in practice
Assessment of the impact of a community pharmacist-led brief intervention on knowledge and medication adherence in diabetic hypertensive patients in Norway.
Full text linkThis study was to assess the impact of a community pharmacist-led brief intervention in patients suffering from coexisting diabetes mellitus and hypertension in relation to knowledge and medication adherence. The study utilized a prospective, randomized controlled pilot design. The study was conducted in Kongsberg, Norway at community pharmacies and findings of the study showed significant improvement in patient’s knowledge about their diseases and adherence to medication. The results of this study can help to affirm the role of community pharmacist as an integral member of primary care services to maximize the quality of care and to develop a framework for medication adherence for chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension that matches the specific needs of the population. The development and implementation of community pharmacist-led diabetes and hypertension intervention can provide basis for the stakeholders to further develop various community pharmacist-led public health policies and practice. Findings of this study can lead to reduced healthcare expenditures by optimizing medication use, preventing unnecessary care, and minimizing adverse drug events. These findings can provide policy changes, advocating for increased funding and support for expanded pharmacist services
Measuring cytokines in Eurasian tundra reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) with a bovine bead-based multiplex immunoassay and real-time PCR.
Full text linkBackground
Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) herding is based on access to seasonal pastures. Pastureland is, however, being lost and fragmented due to e.g. climate change, human activities, and predators, creating an increasing need for feeding and fencing. This alters disease occurrence, leading to a greater need for disease investigation tools. Knowledge of the activation of immune pathways during disease can be obtained by measuring cytokines, but no commercial methods are currently available for reindeer. This study investigated whether the MILLIPLEX® Bovine Cytokine Magnetic Bead assay could be used to detect interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in reindeer cell supernatants and serum. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from reindeer (n = 4) and cattle (Bos taurus, n = 3) were stimulated with mitogens for 6 and 24 h (h) and the quantity of cytokines in cell supernatants was measured. Serum from experimental viral infections in reindeer (Orf virus; ORFV and Varicellovirus cervidalpha2; CvHV2) was also analysed. Additionally, primers were designed to measure cytokine gene expression in response to mitogens by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).
Results
The bovine bead-based multiplex immunoassay detected five of six cytokines (IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α, IFN-γ) in reindeer PBMC supernatants after stimulation. All cytokines were detected in bovine samples. Although cytokine concentrations were generally higher in bovine samples, analysis of reindeer supernatants demonstrated significantly increased IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α and IFN-γ concentrations in supernatants from stimulated compared to unstimulated PBMCs. Neither reindeer nor cattle samples showed a significant increase for IL-6, while IL-8 was increased only in bovine samples after 6 h stimulation. Serum from reindeer infected with CvHV2 showed significantly increased IFN-γ levels on days 4 and 7 post inoculation. Gene expression of all cytokines was increased by stimulation of reindeer PBMCs, except IL-6 for which primer design was unsuccessful.
Conclusions
This study shows the potential of the bovine bead-based multiplex immunoassay for measuring IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α, and IFN-γ concentrations in reindeer. The qPCR is suitable for measuring gene expression of these cytokines and IL-8. These methods may be used to characterise immune responses in reindeer, but further testing and validation are warranted.publishedVersio
Assessing the Transformative Power of Innovation on Business Performance in Private Sector Firms
Full text linkEmpirical research underlines the importance of innovation concerning improving a firm's competitive advantage. However, research evidence attests to the fact that the impact of innovation has not been at the desired level in Norway in recent years. This dissertation, inspired by a unique curiosity about the Norwegian economy, is aware of this challenge and analyzes how innovation impacts the competitiveness of firms. It tries to fill this gap byanalyzing the transformative ability of innovation towards changing business performance regarding profitability, export-driven innovations, and technical efficiency. The study acknowledges the debate on the correlation between innovation and business performance, noting that benefits may be temporary or specific to certain performance metrics. It also recognizes that contextual factors and misapplication of innovation methods can influence innovation's transformative power.
Based on various econometric methods, the study explores the impact of innovation and its approaches on business performance in Norwegian private sector firms, using community innovation survey (CIS) data and accounting information. In this context, it conducts investigations, including dynamic analyses, to understand the time-bound effects of innovation. The findings reveal mixed impacts of innovation on business performance, contingent on the type of innovation and context. Moreover, how best export-led innovation improves is peculiar to the applicable firms' process approaches – the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) as well as Doing, Using, and Interacting (DUI) methods. Also, while profitability improves with disruptive innovation, disruptive and sustaining innovations enhance technical efficiency in manufacturing and service sectors. This view emphasizes disruptive innovation's profit potential and challenges the view that innovation's impact is primarily financial. The finding also reveals that innovation offers immediate and medium-term benefits to service firms in smaller economies, highlighting competition and market volatility constraints.
Methodologically, the dissertation adopts a "synthesis approach" that transcends traditional sectoral boundaries. The approach offers a holistic framework for analyzing how various innovation strategies (STI, DUI, disruptive, sustaining) influence business performance across multiple contexts. Theoretically, it enriches economic theory by revealing innovation's multi-dimensional effects beyond traditional financial indicators. The research shows how innovation enhances technical efficiency and export-led innovation for organizational effectiveness while challenging existing theories of innovation sources and impacts. Managerially, it emphasizes that successful innovation requires continuous adaptation to specific contextual requirements over fixed strategies. It stresses that the profit impacts of innovation may be constrained to medium-term horizons. This perception complements Schumpeter's dynamic economic theory, which states that ongoing innovation is essential to sustain performance in the long term. These contributions provide valuable suggestions for business managers in the evolving context of innovation. They also offer policies in support of varied innovative activities appropriate to unique contexts. By illustrating how innovation drives different dimensions of business performance across diverse contexts, the dissertation substantiates innovation's transformative power as necessary for sustainable economic growth.publishedVersio