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Kartlegging av utbredelsen av et norsk ravinefylt nedlagt avfallsdeponi ved bruk av en kombinasjon av elektriske metoder
No full textAvfallsdeponier bidrar til flere problemer i samfunnet vårt, inkludert giftige sigevann som forurenser grunnvann og jord, utslipp av metan og CO₂ samt infrastruktursskader forårsaket av nedbrytning av organisk materiale.
Brånåsdalen avfallsdeponi, som ligger i Lillestrøm kommune, er plassert i en gammel ravine med marine avsetninger. Området brukes i dag til industri-, bolig-, landbruks- og rekreasjonsformål. Deponiet har forårsaket en rekke utfordringer siden det ble stengt, inkludert skader på boliger, utslipp av metangass, belastning på beboerne, rettssaker og betydelige erstatningskostnader for Lillestrøm kommune.
De siste årene har det blitt gjennomført omfattende forskning på Brånåsdalen deponi for å avgrense dets ytre grenser og vurdere metangassutslipp. Nylige studier inkluderer elektrisk resistivitetstomografi (ERT) samt målinger av gassfluks og -konsentrasjon både innendørs i industri- og boligområder og utendørs for å estimere CO₂- og metanutslipp samt lokalisere utslippshotspots.
Denne masteroppgaven fokuserer på kartlegging av deponiets ytre grenser ved bruk av Geonics EM34-3 og EM38-MK2-instrumentene. Dataene som samles inn fra den elektromagnetiske (EM) undersøkelsen, vil sammenlignes med tidligere forskning som har benyttet elektrisk resistivitetstomografi (ERT) og kart over deponiets antatte grenser, utviklet av Norconsult. EM gir mulighet for rask innsamling av data over et stort område, samt mulighet for innsamling på områder uavhengig av underlag, der ERT gir mer høyoppløselig data, men med lavere innsamlingshastighet og umulig å benytte på enkelte underlag.
Studien undersøker kontraster i elektrisk ledningsevne i undergrunnsmaterialer for å lokalisere deponiets grenser og vurderer metodens styrker og svakheter for potensielle fremtidige kartlegging av avfallsdeponi og forurensninger. EM34-3 ble brukt i både horisontal og vertikal dipolkonfigurasjon, med sender-mottaker-avstander på 10 m, 20 m og 40 m for å måle ledningsevne på ulike dybder og teste utstyrets følsomhet for støy under forskjellige forhold. EM38-MK2 ble brukt i vertikal dipolkonfigurasjon med en effektiv gjennomtrengningsdybde på 1,5 m.
Brånåsdalen deponi er et ideelt testområde for denne metoden på grunn av tidligere forskning og områdets varierte bruk. Jordbruksarealer gir et miljø med minimal menneskeskapt støy, mens bolig- og parkområder tester utstyrets effektivitet under mer støyende forhold.
Resultatene viser en økning i elektrisk ledningsevne som stort sett samsvarer med det tidligere antatte kartet over deponiet. Imidlertid ble det observert betydelig høyere verdier i boligområder sammenlignet med jordbruksland. Dataene antyder at utstyret er mindre følsomt i horisontal dipolmodus og med kortere antenneavstander, noe som gjør det mer egnet i områder med menneskelig påvirkning. Samlet sett er utstyret effektivt for rask kartlegging i områder med minimal menneskelig forstyrrelse, som jordbruksland eller utmark. Det anbefales å kombinere EM-data med ERT for kontrollmålinger i utvalgte interesseområder for økt nøyaktighet.Landfills contribute to several problems in our society, including toxic leachates contaminating groundwater and soil, methane and CO₂ emissions, and infrastructure damage caused by the degradation of organic material. Brånåsdalen landfill, located in the municipality of Lillestrøm, is situated in an old ravine within marine deposits. The area is currently utilized for industrial, residential, agricultural, and recreational purposes. The landfill has caused numerous challenges since its closure, including damage to residential properties, methane gas emissions, stress on residents, lawsuits, and significant compensation costs borne by the municipality of Lillestrøm. In recent years, extensive research has been conducted on Brånåsdalen landfill to delineate its outer borders and assess methane gas emissions. Recent research includes ERT and measurements of gas flux and concentration both inside industry and residence, as well as outdoors to estimate CO2 and methane emissions and locate emission hotspots. This master’s thesis focuses on mapping the outer borders of the landfill using the Geonics EM34-3 and EM38-MK2 instruments. The data collected from the electromagnetic (EM) survey will be compared with previous research utilizing Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and maps of the assumed borders developed by Norconsult. The study investigates contrasts in electrical conductivity in subsurface materials to locate the landfill boundaries and evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the method for potential future environmental applications. The EM34-3 was deployed in both horizontal and vertical dipole configurations, with transmitter-receiver antenna spacings of 10 m, 20 m, and 40 m, to measure conductivity at varying depths and test the equipment’s sensitivity to noise under different settings. EM38-mk2 was used in vertical dipole with a effective skin depth of 1,5m. Brånåsdalen landfill provides an ideal site for testing this method due to previous research and the area’s diverse usage. Agricultural land offers an environment with minimal cultural noise, while residential and park areas test the limits of the equipment’s effectiveness in noisier conditions. The results show an increase in electrical conductivity values that mostly align with the previously assumed map of the landfill. However, significantly higher values were observed in residential areas compared to agricultural land. The data suggest that the equipment is less sensitive in horizontal dipole mode and with shorter antenna spacings, making it suitable more suitable in areas with human interference. Overall, the equipment is effective for fast mapping minimal human interference, like farmland or outfield. Combining EM data with ERT for control measurements in areas of interest is recommended for improved accuracy
Linjer, i reguleringsplaner for transformasjonsområder, som former og plasserer bebyggelse
Get PDFMasteroppgaven undersøker linjer i reguleringsplaner for transformasjonsområder som kan forme og plassere bebyggelse. Hensikter, egenskaper og bruk knyttes opp mot teori og bebygd form. Linjenes hensikter og egenskaper blir definert ved studie av omtale i lovdokumenter og veiledere. I tillegg er planmyndighet i Oslo intervjuet. I en flercasestudie blir linjebruken i reguleringsplaner fra transformasjonsområdene Ensjø og Løren utforsket. Til slutt sammenlignes reguleringsplanenes linjer opp mot bebyggelsen som er skapt i reguleringsplanenes mulighetsrom. Ved å kartlegge hensikter, egenskaper, og praktiske følger søker oppgaven å finne svar på i hvilken grad linjer bestemmer form og plassering for bebyggelse. Funn avdekker at hensiktene med linjene er å fastsette et fleksibelt mulighetsrom og skape forutsigbarhet når det gjelder fysisk utstrekning for fremtidig bebyggelse. Linjene brukes på forskjellige måter for å balansere mellom forutsigbarhet og fleksibilitet, og bestemmer derfor også form og plassering i ulik grad. Teorier om byform og planlegging av byform presenterer fordeler og ulemper med å bestemme form i byplanlegging i ulik grad. Oppgaven viser at linjer, i reguleringsplankart for transformasjonsområder, brukes til å bestemme et mulighetsrom for form og plassering for bebyggelse. Linjene brukes også til å faktisk bestemme kommende form og plassering for bebyggelse gjennom reguleringsbestemmelser. Det konkluderes med at linjene best tjener sin hensikt, og har mest potensial til å skape byform, når de består av entydige juridiske egenskaper som bestemmer forholdet mellom bebyggelse og gaterom.This thesis investigates lines in zoning plans for transformation areas that possess the ability to indicate form and placement of buildings. Purposes, properties and uses are compared to theories and built form. The purposes and properties of lines are defined by a study of legal documents and guidelines. In addition, the planning authorities in Oslo were interviewed. The practice of the lines is explored through a multiple-case study of zoning plans from the areas Ensjø and Løren. Both are undergoing redevelopment and are part of Hovinbyen in Oslo. Finally, the lines indicating form and placement of buildings in zoning plans are compared to the built form of the studied zoning plans. The thesis attempts to find out to what extent lines decide the form and placement of buildings that are part of zoning plans. It does by exposing purposes, characteristics and practical implications. The findings reveal that the purposes of lines are to set a flexible opportunity space and create predictability regarding the physical extent of future buildings. The lines are used in various ways to balance predictability and flexibility, thus determining form and placement to varying degrees. Theories about urban form and the planning of urban form present advantages and disadvantages concerning varying degrees of deciding form and placement. The thesis demonstrates that lines in regulatory plan maps for transformation areas are used to define an opportunity space for the form and placement of buildings. In addition, the lines are used to actually determine future form and placement through detailed written regulations. The thesis concludes that lines serve their purpose best and have the greatest to potential to create urban form when they consist of clear legal properties that decide how building and street are to be related
Bakteriell stammediversitet og konkurransestrategier i spedbarnstarmen
Get PDFThe early bacterial establishment in the infant gut holds implications for overall,
lifelong health. Although the infant gut microbiota has been extensively investigated,
we still have limited knowledge about the sources and diversity among early
colonizers.
This thesis aimed to study strain diversity in the early gut microbiota, addressing
competition strategies among early colonizers.
We first addressed potential associations between bacteriocins and strain diversity
(Paper I). Bacteriocins are antimicrobial peptides produced by bacteria to target
competing bacteria. A bioinformatic screening revealed that bacteriocin genes were
more abundant in infant gut metagenomes than in adult gut metagenomes. Further,
we found an association between bacteriocin gene presence and strain diversity in
infant gut metagenomes. A trend of increased strain diversity within a specific
producer species was observed when its bacteriocin gene was present in the
metagenome. This trend was statistically significant for several bacteriocin genes
and their producer species, including different streptococci.
Since streptococci were identified as important with respect to the association
between bacteriocins and strain diversity, we next addressed sources and strain
diversity of streptococci in the infant gut (Paper II). We performed a strain-level
characterization of commensal streptococci in 100 infant stool samples collected 10
days after birth, using cultivation techniques, whole genome sequencing of isolates,
and shotgun metagenomics. To trace potential sources of the streptococcal isolates,
we designed primers that were specific to their corresponding strain. Using these
strain-specific primers in a qPCR-screening of samples from the infants (stool, oral
cavity) and their mothers (stool, vagina, breast milk), we found that each of the
strains had distinct prevalence patterns. Two of the strains were found to be highly
prevalent in stool samples. Another strain, closely related to a gut-associated strain,
was more prevalent in samples from other body sites. These results suggest that
among the streptococci in the infant gut, some are gut inhabitants while others are
adapted to other habitats. Genotypic comparison of the closely related strains
suggests that part of their genetic differences may be due to variations in their
adhesins. Adhesins are surface-exposed proteins that mediate attachment of the
bacterial cell to host tissues during colonization. Therefore, different sets of
adhesins may be involved in the varying body site specificities among closely related
commensal streptococci.
Finally, the antimicrobial activity of the streptococcal isolates was explored both in
silico, by searching for bacteriocin genes, and in vitro, through experimental assays
(Paper III). Bacteriocin genes were detected for about half of the isolates. Of the two
mentioned gut-associated strains, one encoded several broad-spectrum
bacteriocins, while no bacteriocin genes were detected in the other. The
experimental assays revealed a lack of detectable antimicrobial activity among the
isolates. The isolates grew poorly throughout the experiments. This suboptimal
growth likely influenced the results. Therefore, optimization of the culture
conditions is needed before further investigation of antimicrobial activity.
Collectively, the findings of this thesis suggest that bacteriocin production may have
implications for the strain diversity in the early gut microbiota. Furthermore, gutspecific
adhesins appear to be important for colonization of commensal
streptococci. Adhesion is believed to be a competition strategy, however, due to our
small strain collection, an association between strain diversity and competition
involving adhesins and was not further explored. The results in Paper II suggest
that streptococcal strain diversity in infant stool samples includes both gut-resident
strains and transient strains that have translocated from other habitats. Therefore,
there is a possibility that the observed association between bacteriocin gene
presence and strain diversity in streptococci in Paper I reflects other habitats than
the gut, such as the oral cavity.
In conclusion, the work in this thesis points toward bacteriocin production and gutspecific
adhesins as two competition strategies among early colonizers of the infant
gut. To move toward an understanding of the ecological roles of these strategies, the
mechanisms involved should be experimentally determined.Den tidlige etableringen av bakterier i spedbarnstarmen har betydning for helsen
gjennom hele livet. Selv om tarmmikrobiotaen hos spedbarn har blitt omfattende
undersøkt, har vi fortsatt begrenset kunnskap om kilder og stammediversitet blant
bakterier som koloniserer tidlig i livet.
Denne oppgaven hadde som mål å studere stammediversitet i tarmmikrobiotaen
tidlig i livet, med fokus på konkurransestrategier blant disse.
Først undersøkte vi mulige sammenhenger mellom bakteriociner og
stammediversitet (Artikkel I). Bakteriociner er antimikrobielle peptider produsert
av bakterier for å angripe konkurrerende bakterier. En bioinformatisk screening
avdekket at bakteriocingener var mer utbredt i metagenomer fra spedbarnstarmen
sammenlignet med metagenomer fra voksentarmen. Videre fant vi en sammenheng
mellom tilstedeværelse av bakteriocingener og stammediversitet i metagenomer fra
spedbarnstarmen. En tendens til økt stammediversitet innenfor en spesifikk art ble
observert når bakteriocingenet den var assosiert med var til stede i metagenomet.
Denne trenden var statistisk signifikant for flere bakteriocingener og arter som
produserer disse bakteriocinene, inkludert forskjellige streptokokker.
Siden streptokokker ble identifisert som viktige med hensyn til sammenhengen
mellom bakteriociner og stammediversitet, undersøkte vi kilder og
stammediversitet blant streptokokker i spedbarnstarmen (Artikkel II). Ved bruk av
dyrkningsteknikker, helgenomsekvensering av isolater og shotgunmetagenomsekvensering
karakteriserte vi kommensale streptokokker på
stammenivå i 100 avføringsprøver fra spedbarn, samlet inn 10 dager etter fødsel.
For å spore potensielle kilder til streptokokkisolatene, designet vi primere som var
spesifikke for deres tilsvarende stamme. Ved bruk av disse stammespesifikke
primerne i en qPCR-screening av prøver fra spedbarna (avføring, munnhule) og
mødrene deres (avføring, vagina, brystmelk) fant vi at hver av stammene hadde
distinkte prevalensmønstre. To av stammene var svært utbredt i avføringsprøver.
En annen stamme, nært beslektet med en tarmassosiert stamme, var mer utbredt i
prøver fra andre steder på kroppen. Disse resultatene tyder på at blant
streptokokkene i spedbarnstarmen lever noen streptokokker i tarmen, mens andre
8
er tilpasset andre habitater. En genotypisk sammenligning av de nært beslektede
stammene antyder at en del av deres genetiske forskjeller kan skyldes variasjoner i
adhesinene deres. Adhesiner er overflateeksponerte proteiner som øker
bakteriecellens evne til å feste seg til vertens vev under kolonisering. Derfor kan
ulike adhesiner blant nært beslektede kommensale streptokokker potensielt være
involvert i deres spesifisitet til forskjellige steder på kroppen.
Til slutt ble den antimikrobielle aktiviteten til streptokokkisolatene undersøkt både
in siloco, ved å søke etter bakteriocingener, og in vitro, gjennom eksperimentelle
forsøk (Artikkel III). Bakteriocingener ble påvist for omtrent halvparten av
isolatene. Blant de to nevnte tarmassosierte stammene, kodet den ene stammen for
flere bredspektrede bakteriociner, mens ingen bakteriocingener ble påvist i den
andre. De eksperimentelle forsøkene avdekket mangel på antimikrobiell aktivitet
blant isolatene. Isolatene vokste dårlig både under forberedelsene og
gjennomføringen av eksperimentene. Denne suboptimale veksten påvirket
sannsynligvis resultatene. Derfor er en optimalisering av dyrkningsforholdene
nødvendig før videre undersøkelse av antimikrobiell aktivitet.
Samlet sett tyder funnene i denne oppgaven på at produksjon av bakteriociner kan
ha betydning for stammediversitet i tarmmikrobiotaen tidlig i livet. Videre ser
tarmspesifikke adhesiner ut til å være viktig for kolonisering av kommensale
streptokokker. Adhesjon antas å være en konkurransestrategi, men på grunn av vår
lille stammesamling ble en sammenheng mellom stammediversitet og konkurranse
som involverer adhesiner ikke utforsket videre. Resultatene i Artikkel II antyder at
streptokokk-stammediversitet i avføringsprøver fra spedbarn inkluderer både
etablerte stammer og stammer som har forflyttet seg fra andre habitater og kun
passerer igjennom tarmen. Derfor er det en mulighet for at den observerte
sammenhengen mellom tilstedeværelse av bakteriocingener og stammediversitet
for streptokokker i Artikkel I gjenspeiler andre habitater enn tarmen, slik som
munnhulen.
Avslutningsvis peker arbeidet i denne oppgaven mot produksjon av bakteriociner
og tarmspesifikke adhesiner som to mulige konkurransestrategier blant bakteriene
som koloniserer tarmen tidlig i livet. For å oppnå en forståelse av de økologiske
rollene til disse strategiene, bør de involverte mekanismene bestemmes
eksperimentelt.Tine B
Farmers’ Motivations for On-farm Conservation of Landrace Cereals: A Norwegian Case Study
Get PDFLandraces underpin food security by providing diverse genetic material to plant breeders and enable low-input farming systems adapted to both heterogenous environments and socio-cultural contexts. Farmers who choose to engage in on-farm conservation of landrace crop varieties play a key role in safeguarding genetic diversity while they support its continued evolution and adaptation in situ. Several factors drive farmers’ decision-making when they maintain landrace varieties on-farm, and to understand farmers’ motivations for landrace cultivation is crucial to support on-farm conservation efforts. In this master’s thesis I investigate why farmers choose to cultivate landrace cereals over modern cultivars and how these motivations shape their practices. I used a case study approach and conducted semi-structured interviews with eight commercial landrace cereal producers from diverse agroecological contexts who are connected to different landrace cereal mills in Norway. Findings indicate that a combination of agronomic, economic, and cultural motivations drive on-farm landrace conservation, and that agronomic and economic factors are the most significant. Farmers’ motivations directly shape their practices, influence variety selection, production methods, and business strategies. Farmers perceive that landrace varieties possess beneficial traits and quality attributes that modern cultivars lack, and these traits make them well-suited for low-input organic farming and artisan products sold in niche markets. Moreover, the properties of landrace cereals enable farmers to fulfill their sustainability objectives, which include farming in harmony with nature and producing high-quality cereals for human consumption in marginal, low-input environments. Farmers are more likely to select varieties with strong commercial potential, and only a minority of farmers have the interest to maintain landraces solely for conservation purposes. In this study I highlight the complex interplay between farmers’ motivations and their practices while I underscore the critical role of farmer-led initiatives, market incentives, and supportive policies to sustain in situ landrace conservation
Interplay of Trade Openness, Renewable Energy Consumption, and Carbon Emissions on Economic Growth among the East African Community (EAC) Member States
Get PDFThis thesis examines how trade openness, renewable energy consumption, and carbon emissions collectively influence economic growth among East African Community (EAC) member states using panel data spanning 2000-2023. The study tests four hypotheses: First, trade openness has a significant positive effect on economic growth in the EAC region; second, carbon emissions have a positive effect on economic growth in the EAC region; third, renewable energy consumption positively influences economic growth in the EAC region; and fourth, there exists a causal relationship between trade openness, renewable energy consumption, and carbon emissions on economic growth in the EAC region.
Employing fixed effects and GMM dynamic panel estimation models, the empirical results reveal that trade openness significantly contributes to economic growth, with a 1% increase in trade openness being associated with a 0.22% increase in GDP per capita. Carbon emissions demonstrate an even stronger positive relationship, with a 1% increase corresponding to a 1.42% increase in GDP per capita. However, renewable energy consumption shows a positive but statistically insignificant relationship with economic growth, suggesting that the EAC region remains in a transition phase where modern renewable energy benefits have yet to be fully realized.
The Granger causality tests demonstrate bidirectional causality between trade openness and economic growth and between carbon emissions and economic growth. For renewable energy consumption, only unidirectional causality from economic growth to renewable energy consumption is observed, indicating that improved economic conditions drive renewable energy investments rather than the reverse.
These findings position EAC countries in the early phases of the Environmental Kuznets Curve, where environmental quality deteriorates with economic development. The study concludes that achieving sustainable growth in the region requires an integrated approach to trade, energy, and environmental policies, including strengthened regional integration, investments in productive renewable energy technologies, targeted environmental regulations, and long-term strategic planning that balances immediate development needs with sustainability goals
Evaluating Electrocoagulation for Phosphorus and Turbidity Removal in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS)
No full textRecirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) experience an accumulation of fine
solids and phosphate, which are not effectively removed by conventional solids removal units. These residuals affect fish health, and contributes to the eutrophication
of receiving water bodies when discharged. Electrocoagulation is an emerging water
treatment technology that offers a chemical-free alternative for managing these pollutants, and has shown promising results in various wastewater sources. This thesis
evaluates the potential of using electrocoagulation to remove orthophosphate and
turbidity in water from an experimental-scale RAS with live fish. A predictive linear
regression model was developed to estimate aluminum release based on current density and electrolysis time. This model was used to set dosing parameters for a series
of bench-scale experiments, with a target aluminum dose of 20 mg L−1
. Experiments
were conducted in both batch and continuous flow setups under varied electrode conditions and pH levels. Batch experiments demonstrated orthophosphate removal efficiencies up to 92%, with corresponding turbidity reductions of up to 48%. However,
replicate trials demonstrated that electrode surface condition and pH significantly
influenced removal efficiency. A prototype continuous flow electrocoagulation reactor was constructed and tested, yielding an orthophosphate RE of 54% and 69% in
unfiltered and filtered RAS water, respectively. Both the batch and continuous flow
systems exhibited elevated levels of residual aluminum exceeding safe thresholds for
aquaculture. The lowest measured concentrations were 4.83 mg L−1 and 6.10 mg L−1
,
respectively. While electrocoagulation shows promise as a chemical-free treatment
method for removing orthophosphate and turbidity from RAS, its practical application is currently limited by elevated residual aluminum concentrations above safe
thresholds for aquaculture. These levels pose toxicity risks to fish, particularly under
prolonged exposure, and may impair gill function or disrupt biofilter performance. Although measures such as pH adjustment and electrode surface cleaning improved removal efficiency, they did not sufficiently lower aluminum residuals. Future work must
focus on optimizing dosing, electrode material selection, or post-treatment strategies
to achieve effective pollutant removal without compromising fish health
Utforsking av det genetiske grunnlaget for foredling av sukkertare (Saccharina latissima)
Get PDFKelp (Laminariales) holds significant potential as a sustainable source of
food, feed, fertilizer, biofuels, bioplastics, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and
more. Kelp cultivation is a major industry, producing over 15 million tonnes
(live weight) annually as of 2020 (FAO, 2022). The majority of this production
takes place in Asia, particularly in China, where kelp cultivation is wellestablished,
and selectively bred varieties have been cultivated for decades.
In contrast, this industry in Europe and North America is relatively young, and
most of the cultivated kelp originate from the wild. In Norway, sugar kelp
(Saccharina latissima) is the main cultivated species, though current
production is modest and primarily targeted toward food and feed additives.
Scaling up production could, however, open opportunities in new markets
that require significant biomass. Developing kelp varieties specifically bred
for cultivation conditions could be essential for improving yields and
supporting the growth of this expanding industry.
This PhD project explores the potential for improving individual size in S.
latissima through a relatively simple breeding scheme based on mixed
hybridization and mass selection. The study utilized a local wild population
(F0) as the starting point for a two-generation selection experiment. The F1
generation was created through mixed hybridization of the F0 population,
and the F2 generation was produced by selecting the longest individuals from
F1 for inclusion in further mixed hybridization. Genotyping-by-sequencing
(GBS) was employed to obtain genome-wide markers (SNPs and short readbacked
haplotypes), which were used to analyze the genetic aspects of the
experiment.
First, I analyzed the population genetics of the wild base population (F0)
to better understand the genetic foundations of our selection experiment.
This resulted in a fine-population genetics study revealing significant
outbreeding and genetic subdivision across shorter distances than what has
been previously observed. A particle dispersal prediction model revealed that
local currents play an important role in connectivity between nearby
populations.
Next, I analyzed the two-generation selection experiment to investigate
the genetic dynamics within the populations during mixed hybridization.
Through parentage assignment, I identified several key challenges, including
high rates of self-hybridization and unintended selection, resulting in some
individuals producing more offspring than others. Additionally, I observed
signs of inbreeding depression affecting survival and fertility rates,
underscoring the importance of minimizing self-fertilization during the
propagation of seeding material in mixed hybridization. I also observed that
triploid sporophytes had formed spontaneously in both the cultivated
generations, albeit at a very low rate.
Finally, I conducted quantitative genetic analyses using genomic
relationship matrices (GRMs) derived from short read-backed haplotypes to
assess the prospects for improving four size-related traits: blade length, blade
width, stipe length and fresh weight. These analyses revealed significant
inbreeding depression affecting all traits, mainly caused by highly inbred
selfings and apomictic individuals performing poorly. Importantly, most sizerelated
traits were found to be heritable, indicating that genetic improvement
through breeding is possible, even though this selection experiment did not
achieve an increase in blade length.
While the selection experiment did not yield immediate genetic
improvement, it provided critical insights into the challenges of using mixed
hybridization and mass selection in S. latissima breeding. The findings shed
light on important genetic mechanisms and offer valuable guidance for
conservation, cultivation, and future breeding efforts.publishedVersio
Prevalence of anthelmintic resistance in the nematode Ostertagia ostertagi in cattle
Get PDFLitteraturstudien 2025Ostertagia ostertagi is a common parasite in cattle in Norway and globally, with the potential to cause significant economic loss and reduce animal welfare. Resistance against anthelmintics is a growing threat, and therefore we aimed to investigate the prevalence of such resistance in O. ostertagi, with a focus on the status in Norway. With that in mind we carried out a systematic literature study based on a search in PubMed and Scopus. After removing duplicates and screening 147 studies, 21 primary studies were ultimately included in our literature review. The studies showed that anthelmintic resistance in O. ostertagi is widespread globally and involve all major anthelmintic drug classes used to treat O. ostertagi. In terms of treatment efficacy, ivermectin had the highest incidence of resistance, whereas certain combination preparations yielded better outcomes. There were zero studies found in Norway, and only one throughout the entire Nordic region (Sweden). This highlights a significant knowledge gap in the Nordic region compared to the rest of the world. There is therefore a significant need for research in this area in Norwegian cattle herds to assess the resistance situation nationally.Ostertagia ostertagi er en vanlig parasitt hos storfe i Norge og globalt, med potensielt store økonomiske og dyrevelferdsmessige konsekvenser. Resistens mot anthelmintika er en voksende utfordring, og vi ønsket derfor å undersøke forekomsten av slik resistens hos O. ostertagi, med særlig fokus på status i Norge. På bakgrunn av dette gjennomførte vi en systematisk litteraturstudie basert på søk i PubMed og Scopus. Etter fjerning av duplikater og screening av 147 studier ble til slutt 21 primærstudier inkludert i vår litteraturstudie. Studiene viste at anthelmintikaresistens hos O. ostertagi er utbredt globalt, samt mot alle vanlige legemiddelgrupper brukt mot O. ostertagi. Ivermektin hadde høyest resistensforekomst, mens enkelte kombinasjonspreparater fortsatt viste god effekt. Vi fant ingen studier fra Norge, og kun én fra Norden (Sverige), noe som indikerer et tydelig kunnskapshull i Norden sammenlignet med resten av verden. Det er derfor et klart behov for forskning på dette fagområdet i norske storfebesetninger for å kunne vurdere resistenssituasjonen nasjonalt.VE
Climate change mitigation through alternative uses of Norwegian forest resources
Get PDFThe carbon substitution and storage effects related to Norwegian forests and the forest sector were compared under three potential roundwood harvest scenarios: maintaining harvests at 2021 levels, increasing harvests by 20% due to policies aimed at maximizing economic benefits from the forest sector, and reducing harvests by 20% due to biodiversity concerns. For harvested wood products, both the current product structure and hypothetical alternatives were considered. The carbon stock development in forests was projected using a forestry simulation tool for Norway. Many uncertainties in carbon storage, substitution parameters, and data have been addressed using Monte Carlo simulations. Shifting a portion of pulpwood use to produce wood-based insulation materials and textile fibres was found to increase the climate benefits from the Norwegian forest sector. In contrast, the shift to bioethanol production had only a marginal effect compared to the current production structure. The analysis spanned the next two decades, which is a period relevant to the investment and operational lifespan of industrial facilities. The results suggest that during this time, smarter use of harvested roundwood for HWPs with high carbon substitution benefits can be an effective means of climate change mitigation. However, in the long term, enhancing forest carbon sinks by reducing harvests may be more beneficial for the climate, provided that global efforts to reduce emissions from energy production are successful and lead to a decrease in emissions associated with the production of various materials.Climate change mitigation through alternative uses of Norwegian forest resourcespublishedVersio
Kostnadssynergier ved norske sparebankfusjoner
Get PDFMålet med denne oppgaven har vært å undersøke om norske sparebanker har oppnådd kostnadssynergier etter fusjonering. Hovedfokuset i oppgaven har vært å beregne utviklingen i relative nøkkeltall etter gjennomført fusjon. Nøkkeltallene har blitt sammenlignet med årene før fusjonering i tillegg til at vi har utviklet bransjetall som sammenligningsgrunnlag.
Analysen er basert på 23 fusjoner mellom 2007 og 2020 bestående av 48 opprinnelige sparebanker. Datagrunnlaget bestod av 104 årsrapporter hentet fra Brønnøysundregistrene, i tillegg til regnskapsdata for alle norske sparebanker i perioden 2005 til 2023 hentet fra Bankenes sikringsfond.
For å analysere effekten fusjoner har hatt på kostnadsnivået i norske sparebanker utviklet vi relative nøkkeltallsindikatorer. Dette sikret sammenlignbarhet mellom de ulike sparebankene og årstallene i utvalget. Videre korrigerte vi for bransjetall for å isolere effekten av fusjonene. I tillegg til å undersøke om sparebankene oppnår kostnadssynergier etter gjennomført fusjon, har vi også undersøkt til hvilken grad dette er realisert.
Studien viser at 74% av sparebankene opplevde en nedgang i nøkkeltallsindikatoren driftskostnader/brutto utlån korrigert for endringer i bransjen året etter fusjonering. I gjennomsnitt reduserte sparebankene denne nøkkeltallsindikatoren med 6,92% året etter fusjonering. For nøkkeltallsindikatoren personalkostnader/brutto utlån opplevde 68% av sparebankene en reduksjon året etter gjennomført fusjon. Denne nøkkeltallsindikatoren ble i gjennomsnitt redusert med 7,06% året etter fusjonering. Vi har også gjennomført t-tester og bekreftet at resultatene er signifikante.
På bakgrunn av resultatene i denne studien konkluderte vi med at majoriteten av norske sparebanker oppnår kostnadssynergier etter fusjonering. Dette viser at kostnadssynergier er et realistisk og oppnåelig motiv for fusjonering i den norske sparebanksektoren.The objective of this thesis has been to investigate whether Norwegian savings banks have achieved cost synergies through mergers. The main focus of the study has been to assess the development of relative key financial ratios after completed mergers. These key ratios have been compared to the years prior to the mergers, and we have also developed industry benchmarks for comparison.
This analysis Is based on on 23 mergers between 2007 and 2020, involving 48 original savings banks. The data consisted of 104 annual reports obtained from the Brønnøysund Register Centre, in addition to accounting data for all Norwegian savings banks from 2005 to 2023, sourced from the Norwegian Banks’ Guarantee Fund.
To analyze the impact of mergers on cost levels in Norwegian savings banks, we developed relative key performance indicators. This ensured comparability between different banks and years in the sample. Furthermore, we adjusted for industry benchmarks to isolate the effect of mergers. In addition to examining whether savings banks achieve cost synergies after merging, we also investigated the extent to which these synergies are realized.
The study shows that 74% of the savings banks experienced a decline in the key performance indicator operating costs/gross loans, adjusted for index, in the year following the merger. On average, savings banks reduced this key ratio by 6.92% in the year after merging. For the key ratio personnel costs/gross loans, 68% of the savings banks experienced a reduction in the year following the merger, with an average decline of 7.06%. We have also conducted t-tests and confirmed that the results are significant.
Based on the findings of this study, we concluded that the majority of Norwegian savings banks achieve cost synergies after merging. This indicates that cost synergies are a realistic and attainable motive for mergers within the Norwegian savings bank sector