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A Scenario Study of Killingen Island – A Tool for Sustainable Coastal Zone Development in the Oslofjord
No full textThe Oslofjord faces several challenges related climate change and physical interventions along the costal line. These factors have led to loss of habitat, poor water quality and restricts the right to roam for the public. These man-made stress factors need to be reversed, and good long-term decision-making by planners and landscape architects can have a positive impact on the fjord.
This is a scenario study for a proposed detailed regulation plan for Killingen Island, located near Bygdøy, Oslo. The scenario framework used in this thesis is intended a tool for planners, stakeholders and local communities for future participation. The three scenarios are based on actors statements and wishes for development on Killingen, along with environmental and socio-economic data. Killingen Island serves as an example for understanding the broader coastal zone development problematic in a Norwegian context. Although relatively small, the island reflects external factors and land-use conflicts that occur in the Oslofjord. Currently, is Killingen owned privately and used for boat related areas and holiday housing. A key question is whether the island should be opened up for the public or not.
The scenarios should not be viewed as one solution, rather they highlight trends, sustainability imbalance and underlying values. The aim to support good planning decisions by providing a broader understanding of how the future might be and the changing conditions, so planners can act accordingly
Deep Learning for Segmentation of Spinal Canal for Anaesthesia of Dogs
Get PDFAdministering epidural anaesthesia (EA) in dogs requires an individualized approach to ensure both efficacy and safety. EA is commonly
employed for pain management. Traditionally, EA dosing techniques are
based on parameters such as body weight or vertebral column length;
however, these methods face precision challenges. Accurate estimation of
spinal canal volume offers a promising avenue for optimizing anaesthetic
dosing. Manual segmentation of spinal structures from CT scans, although effective, is labour-intensive and prone to inter- and intra-observer
variability. This study investigated the potential of deep learning, specifically the U-Net convolutional neural network architecture, to automate
spinal canal segmentation in canine CT images for improved EA dose
estimation.
The study utilizes a dataset of 10 CT scans sourced from the Veterinary Faculty of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU).
Nine distinct model configurations were explored by varying CT window settings and learning rates to assess their influence on segmentation performance. The primary performance metric was the Dice score,
which captures both false positives and false negatives. Additional metrics, including precision, recall, and volume discrepancy, were employed
for comprehensive model evaluation.
Models were evaluated using a nested cross-validation approach to
ensure robustness. Ensemble predictions were generated to provide more
reliable segmentation results. Post-processing through morphological operations was applied to eliminate mispredicted regions, such as isolated
segments or ‘islands,’ thereby refining volume estimation.
The results indicate that while the selected model achieved commendable precision, false negatives remained a significant limitation. This
suggests that while the model can accurately identify spinal canal regions, it may under-segment, potentially omitting relevant structures.
The highest-performing model yielded the lowest volume discrepancy
relative to ground truth annotations, suggesting the feasibility of the
approach for clinical application. However, the limited dataset imposes
constraints on generalizability, highlighting the need for larger and more
diverse datasets in future research
Bærekraftig drift av offentlige grøntanlegg i Hamar kommune
Get PDFDenne masteroppgaven omhandler bærekraftig drift og grøntforvaltning i grøntanlegg, ved bruk av aspektene estetikk, biologisk mangfold og funksjonalitet. Oppgaven bruker Hamar kommune som et caseområde, og gjør en analyse av hvilke tiltak Hamar kommune har iverksatt som fungerer bra, og hvordan kommunen kan iverksette nye tiltak for å oppnå bærekraftig drift.
Oppgavens analyse og diskusjonskapittel viser hvordan strategier, planlegging og miljøvennlige tiltak kan bidra til bærekraftig drift, samt en tydelig sammenheng mellom grøntforvaltning på strategisk-, taktisk-, og operativt nivå. En bærekraftig drift med fokus på estetikk, biologisk mangfold og funksjonalitet, vil være med på å skape robuste, funksjonelle og vakre grøntanlegg, som nåtidens og fremtidens generasjoner kan dra nytte av. Når grøntanlegg vedlikeholdes kan de være gode områder for rekreasjon, samt øke livskvalitet og naturmangfold. På den andre siden, kan mangelfullt vedlikehold føre til at grøntanlegg forfaller og blir neglisjert over tid, og grøntanleggene mister da sin verdi.This master's thesis deals with sustainable operation and green management in green areas, using the aspects of aesthetics, biodiversity and functionality. The thesis uses Hamar Municipality as a case study, and analyses which measures Hamar Municipality has implemented that work well, and how the municipality can implement new measures to achieve sustainable operation.
The thesis' analysis and discussion chapter show how strategies, planning and environmentally friendly measures can contribute to sustainable operation, as well as a clear connection between green management at the strategic, tactical and operational levels. Sustainable operation with a focus on aesthetics, biodiversity and functionality will help create robust, functional and beautiful green areas, which current and future generations can benefit from. When green areas are maintained, they can be good areas for recreation, as well as increase quality of life and natural diversity. On the other hand, inadequate maintenance can cause green areas to decay and become neglected over time, and the green areas then lose their value
Effect of Boundary Conditions on Modal Parameters and Dynamic Response of CLT Floors
No full textCLT (Cross Laminated Timber) is a relatively new construction material and has undergone significant research over the last decades. Due to the timber’s low mass-to-stiffness ratio, the application of the product often results in a serviceability concern, and specifically a vibration concern in floor configurations. In this regard, boundary conditions play a crucial role in providing stiffness to the structure. Despite their importance, boundary conditions other than simply supported are often neglected or simplified in design practice. The aim of this thesis has therefore been to evaluate how boundary conditions and their respective stiffness values influence the modal parameters and dynamic response of CLT-floors.
To achieve this, a numerical study was conducted to investigate the effects of translational and rotational stiffness of boundary conditions on modal parameters and dynamic response. Boundary conditions with varying stiffness were applied at different locations across two CLT-floor configurations to evaluate the influence of placement and stiffness magnitude. As the stiffness of the boundary conditions was increased, modal parameters, such as natural frequency, modal participating mass ratio and mode shapes up to mode number ten were evaluated. In addition, acceleration responses from time-history analysis under walking excitation were evaluated. To complement this, the frequency content of the floor response was examined, providing further insight into how different boundary conditions affect the floor’s dynamic response.
The findings from this study indicate that the placement of boundary conditions and their respective stiffnesses have a significant influence on the modal parameters and dynamic response of a CLT floor. Noticeably, the translational stiffness has a greater impact on the natural frequency and the modal participating mass ratio compared to rotational stiffness. Results from the time-history analysis revealed that increasing the stiffness at the boundaries did not consistently lead to either an increase or decrease of the RMS-acceleration. However, higher acceleration responses were observed at specific stiffness values, potentially attributable to resonance effects. Additionally, the frequency contributions analysis indicated that the maximum acceleration response may be predicted by only considering the first mode
Shooting Range Contamination: Effect of Trace Elements on Photosystem II on Peat Moss (Sphagnum)
Get PDFShooting ranges in Norway deposit large amounts of trace metals to the environment mainly by leaching out metal ions that accumulate over time. Trace metals are potentially toxic to many plants and animals and even metals that are nutrients can be toxic at high enough concentrations. Many shooting ranges are placed in peatlands and therefore peat moss growing there are exposed to higher levels of trace metals than normal. Peat mosses have an affinity for binding metals, which may be harmful to the moss at high concentrations and can reduce their capacity for growth and reproduction and threaten peatlands as a habitat. Peat moss of the genus Sphagnum. This paper aims to examine the effects of metal contamination on the genus Sphagnum from Steinsjøen shooting range in eastern Norway by using chlorophyll fluorescence, a technique which measures light emitted by plants at a certain wavelength as an indirect measure of photosynthetic capacity. When plants experience stress or damage it usually occurs in the protein complex of photosystem II and thus chlorophyll fluorescence may register harmful effects on peat moss. In combination with analysing Sphagnum moss from a shooting range, this paper also examines the effect of four trace elements Sb, Pb, Cu, and Zn on Sphagnum medium in separate solutions ranging from 0 µM up to 1000µM for each element, and how that effects photosynthesis by using chlorophyll fluorescence. Results suggest that peat moss from the shooting range is not experiencing any stress or damage to photosystem II when using the chlorophyll fluorescence parameter Fv/Fm. Most samples lie within moderately high Fv/Fm values for peat moss at 0.6-0.7 and most contaminated samples were not significantly different than the uncontaminated control when using chlorophyll fluorescence. Exposing Sphagnum medium to Sb, Pb, Cu, Zn and their effects on photosynthesis could not be determined due to other factors significantly contributing to the observed Fv/Fm values. However, the results from Steinsjøen shooting range seem to indicate the peat is able to handle the local metal contamination which could support attempts for non-invasive methods of metal removal and filtration and help give renewed focus on regrowth and restoration.Shooting ranges in Norway deposit large amounts of trace metals to the environment mainly by leaching out metal ions that accumulate over time. Trace metals are potentially toxic to many plants and animals and even metals that are nutrients can be toxic at high enough concentrations. Many shooting ranges are placed in peatlands and therefore peat moss growing there are exposed to higher levels of trace metals than normal. Peat mosses have an affinity for binding metals, which may be harmful to the moss at high concentrations and can reduce their capacity for growth and reproduction and threaten peatlands as a habitat. Peat moss of the genus Sphagnum. This paper aims to examine the effects of metal contamination on the genus Sphagnum from Steinsjøen shooting range in eastern Norway by using chlorophyll fluorescence, a technique which measures light emitted by plants at a certain wavelength as an indirect measure of photosynthetic capacity. When plants experience stress or damage it usually occurs in the protein complex of photosystem II and thus chlorophyll fluorescence may register harmful effects on peat moss. In combination with analysing Sphagnum moss from a shooting range, this paper also examines the effect of four trace elements Sb, Pb, Cu, and Zn on Sphagnum medium in separate solutions ranging from 0 µM up to 1000µM for each element, and how that effects photosynthesis by using chlorophyll fluorescence. Results suggest that peat moss from the shooting range is not experiencing any stress or damage to photosystem II when using the chlorophyll fluorescence parameter Fv/Fm. Most samples lie within moderately high Fv/Fm values for peat moss at 0.6-0.7 and most contaminated samples were not significantly different than the uncontaminated control when using chlorophyll fluorescence. Exposing Sphagnum medium to Sb, Pb, Cu, Zn and their effects on photosynthesis could not be determined due to other factors significantly contributing to the observed Fv/Fm values. However, the results from Steinsjøen shooting range seem to indicate the peat is able to handle the local metal contamination which could support attempts for non-invasive methods of metal removal and filtration and help give renewed focus on regrowth and restoration
Trender i utredning og oppfølging av hørselstap for barn i alder 0-4 år fra 1999 til 2022
Get PDFSammendrag
Bakgrunn: Hørselstap tidlig i barndom kan få alvorlige og langvarige konsekvenser for barnets utvikling, helse og livskvalitet. Det har skjedd store fremskritt innen teknologien og politikken som gjør det mulig å oppdage hørselstap i tidlig alder. Helsetjenesten spiller en viktig rolle i å forebygge de konsekvensene av uoppdaget hørselstap, men vi mangler likevel en oversikt over ulike typer utredninger, diagnoser og intervensjoner som blir tilbudt barn i Norge.
Målsetning: Å undersøke hvilke typer utredninger, diagnoser og intervensjoner barn med hørselstap i alderen 0-4 år mottar i helsetjenesten i perioden fra 1999 til 2022, og å diskutere funn i lys av endringer og utvikling i hørselsomsorgen gjennom denne perioden.
Metode: Det ble gjennomført en deskriptiv analyse av antall registrerte utredninger, diagnoser og intervensjoner i perioden 1999-2022. Datamaterialet er hentet fra Norsk Pasientregister og er basert på data for helsetjenestebruk aggregert på årsnivå for hvert alderskullene 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 år, og fra 1999 til 2022.
Resultater: Antall utredninger har økt betydelig fra antall 8 760 i 2009 til 33 451 i 2022, og den vanligste utredningen gjennom hele perioden og i alle aldre var måling av otoakustiske emisjoner. Antall diagnoser økte over perioden fra ca. 1 600 i 1999 til ca. 3000 i 2022. Nevrogent hørselstap var den vanligste diagnosen gjennom hele perioden og i alle aldre. Antall intervensjoner har vært stabilt over hele perioden med totalt 4 312 registrerte intervensjoner fra 1999 til 2022 i alle aldre. Høreapparat var den vanligste intervensjonen med en andel på 76 % fra 2009 til 2022. Alder ved inndato for helsetjenestebesøk er betydelig lavere i dag enn i 1999, da 0 og 1 åringer til sammen utgjorde en veldig liten andel av alle alderskullene som mottok diagnoser i 1999 (22,1 %), mens de utgjør nesten halvparten i 2022 (42,5 %).
Konklusjon: Funnene viser en økning i antall utredninger og diagnoser fra 1999 til 2022, mens antall intervensjoner har vært relativt stabile over hele perioden. Barn som mottar disse tjenestene, ser generelt ut til å være yngre mot slutten av perioden enn i starten av perioden. En mulig forklaring er innføringen av nyfødtscreening i 2008, som har bidratt til tidligere oppdagelse og bedre oppfølging av hørselstap. Studien gir et viktig grunnlag for videre forskning på hørselsomsorgen for barn.Abstract
Background: Hearing loss early in childhood can have serious and long-lasting consequences for a child`s development, health and quality of life. There have been major advances in technology and policy aimed at detecting hearing loss as early possible. The healthcare system plays an important role in preventing the consequences of undetected hearing loss; however, we still lack an overview of the different types of assessments, diagnoses, and interventions offered to children in Norway.
Aim: To examine the types of evaluations, diagnoses, and interventions received by children with hearing loss aged 0–4 years in the healthcare system from 1999 to 2022, and to discuss the findings in light of changes and developments in hearing care during this period.
Method: A descriptive analysis was conducted on the number of registered clinical evaluations, diagnoses, and interventions in the period 1999–2022. The data were obtained from the Norwegian Patient Registry (NPR) and are based on healthcare usage aggregated by year for each age group (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 years) across the entire time period.
Results: The number of clinical evaluations has increased significantly from 8,760 in 2009 to 33,451 in 2022, and the most common evaluation throughout the entire period and across all ages was the measurement of otoacoustic emissions. The number of diagnoses increased over the period from approximately 1,600 in 1999 to about 3,000 in 2022. Neurogenic hearing loss was the most common diagnosis throughout the entire period and across all ages. The number of interventions has remained stable over the entire period, with a total of 4,312 registered interventions from 1999 to 2022 across all ages. Hearing aids were the most common intervention, accounting for 76% of cases from 2009 to 2022. The age at the time of healthcare visits is significantly lower today than in 1999, when 0- and 1-year-olds together made up a very small proportion of all age groups receiving diagnoses (22.1% in 1999), compared to nearly half in 2022 (42.5%).
Conclusion: The findings show an increase in the number of evaluations and diagnoses from 1999 to 2022, while the number of interventions has remained relatively stable throughout the period. Children receiving these services generally appear to be younger at the end of the period compared to the beginning. One possible explanation is the introduction of newborn hearing screening in 2008, which has contributed to earlier detection and better follow-up of hearing loss. The study provides an important foundation for further research on hearing care for children
The behavioral and neuroendocrine stress response in wild Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) fisheries: longline vs. fish traps
Get PDFFishing practices play a critical role in shaping the welfare outcomes for wild-caught fish but remain insufficiently studied in terms of their physiological and behavioral impacts. This study investigated stress responses in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) caught via two commercial methods, longline and fish traps. Behavioral data were recorded during the final capture stages using remote underwater video and scored using an ethogram. Plasma cortisol levels and monoamine neurochemistry (serotonin and 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid, dopamine and 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, and norepinephrine) levels in two brain regions associated with stress responses, the ventral part of the ventral telencephalon (Vv) and the tubercular nuclei (TN) of the hypothalamus, were assessed. RNA sequencing of both regions was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with a possible relation to stress or nociception.
Cod caught by longline exhibited significantly higher cortisol levels, dopaminergic activity, and escape-related behavior compared to fish trap-caught individuals, suggesting a more pronounced acute experience of stress. Similarly, fish trap-caught cod exhibited more passive behavior, lower cortisol levels, and increased serotonergic activity, likely reflecting prolonged confinement stress and inhibitory processes. No differences were found between NE levels.
Transcriptomic analysis identified one differentially expressed gene between methods: the upregulation of calcb in the TN of longline-caught cod, a gene associated with nociception in mammals. Within-method comparisons showed consistent region-specific gene expression patterns, supporting functional differentiation between Vv and TN. Correlations between biometric data, cortisol, monoamine neurochemistry, and DEGs supported a more acute stress response in longline-caught fish.
These findings demonstrate that capture methods significantly affect stress behavior and physiology in Atlantic cod. The integration of behavioral, endocrine, and transcriptomic data provides a comprehensive framework for assessing fish welfare in commercial fisheries
Miljøbetinget påvirkning av hjertemorfologi hos atlantisk laks
No full textThe farming of Atlantic salmon is under scrutiny for poor animal welfare, as they
experience high mortality rates during stressful interventions in the sea phase. One
of the contributing factors to this mortality is an impaired cardiovascular system.
While significant attention has been given to viral diseases affecting the heart,
deviating geometric cardiac morphology has largely been overlooked. Indeed,
geometric heart morphology differs dramatically between farmed and wild salmon,
with farmed salmon generally exhibiting rounded, asymmetrical ventricles and
misaligned bulbi. The timing and causes of the development of such deviating
morphology remains largely unexplored. Also, whereas these deviations have been
suggested to contribute to mortality during stressful conditions, this notion remains
to be tested. Atlantic salmon exhibits phenotypic plasticity influenced by
environmental signals, which is also evident in the salmonid heart. For example,
relative heart size and tissue composition are influenced by temperature and
photoperiod, indicating that they may be key regulators of cardiac remodelling. Of
note, common farming practices often involve manipulation of these environmental
signals to enhance growth and control smoltification, but the potential impact this has
on geometrical remodelling of the heart remains largely unknown. The methodology
for assessing geometrical morphology is also incomplete and varies among studies,
perhaps limited by a narrow nomenclature for description of the salmonid heart. In
this context, we first created a detailed nomenclature for important anatomical
landmarks. Using this nomenclature, we unified and developed more detailed
descriptions of previously published quantitative methods, in addition to establishing
a novel qualitative method. The qualitative approach was developed to assess
common cardiac traits not captured by the quantitative method. We found that
farmed salmon have distinctively different heart morphology than wild salmon
already at the fry stage. Furthermore, we identified qualitative traits overrepresented
during mortality events of farmed salmon. Further, we investigated the effects of
early rearing environments on cardiac morphology by experimentally rearing salmon
under either a simulated natural environment characterised by low temperature and
natural photoperiod (SimNat) or under a simulated farmed environment at elevated
temperature and periods of continuous light (SimFarm). We show that rearing
salmon under SimNat promoted a heart morphology that more resembles wild heart
morphology. Furthermore, we found that SimFarm possessed rounder, more misaligned bulbi and asymmetrical ventricles compared to SimNat at the end of
smoltification, along with indications of diastolic dysfunction and higher cardiac
workload. These data indicate that photoperiod and temperature influence the
geometrical remodelling of the heart. However, we were unable to isolate distinct
effects of these different environmental parameters. Finally, to explore the potential
effect of light regime alone, we subjected groups of salmon to commonly used
commercial photoperiods, including continuous light and two different winter
signals. Exposure to winter signal affected relative heart and ventricle mass and had
moderate effects on geometrical cardiac morphology. More precisely, rearing under
continuous light did not affect quantitative morphological measurements but was
associated with a greater average of deviating qualitative traits compared to salmon
that received a winter signal.
In conclusion, given that elevated temperature and commercial photoperiods
promote deviating heart morphology associated with functional distress, we believe
that these deviations can be augmented in commercial settings by implementing
lower temperatures and natural photoperiods.Oppdrettspraksis for atlantisk laks er stadig under kritikk grunnet dårlig dyrevelferd. Næringen opplever høy dødelighet av laks, spesielt under intervensjoner i sjøfasen som utsetter fisken for stress. En av de medvirkende årsakene til denne dødeligheten er et svekket hjerte-kar system. Selv om virussykdommer, som påvirker hjertet, har fått betydelig oppmerksomhet, har avvikende geometrisk hjertemorfologi i stor grad blitt oversett. Det har lenge vært kjent at geometrisk hjertefasong skiller seg drastisk mellom oppdrettslaks og villaks, der oppdrettslaks generelt har avrundede, asymmetriske ventrikler og skjev plassering av bulbus arteriosus. Vi vet lite om tidspunktene og årsakene til utviklingen av slik avvikende morfologi. Det har blitt foreslått at disse avvikene kan bidra til dødelighet under stressende forhold, men denne antakelsen har ikke blitt testet. Atlantisk laks utviser fenotypisk plastisitet som et svar på diverse miljøsignaler, noe som også kommer tydelig til uttrykk i hjertets struktur og funksjon. Endringer i temperatur og fotoperiode har for eksempel vist seg å påvirke relativ hjertevekt og vevssammensetning, noe som indikerer at disse faktorene kan være nøkkelregulatorer for remodellering av hjertet. Oppdrettere manipulerer ofte disse miljøfaktorene for å fremme vekst og kontrollere smoltifisering, men på hvilken måte denne manipulasjonen påvirker den geometriske remodelleringen av hjertet, er i stor grad ukjent. Metodikken for å vurdere geometrisk morfologi er også ufullstendig og varierer mellom studier. Dette skyldes muligens at vi har en begrenset nomenklatur for å beskrive laksehjertet. I denne sammenhengen utviklet vi først en detaljert nomenklatur for viktige anatomiske landemerker på laksehjertet. Deretter brukte vi denne nomenklaturen for å samle og videreutvikle mer detaljerte beskrivelser av tidligere publiserte kvantitative metoder. I tillegg etablere vi en ny kvalitativ metode for å vurdere vanlige fenotypiske trekk på hjertet som ikke fanges opp av den kvantitative metoden. Ved å benytte denne metodologien, fant vi at hjertemorfologien hos oppdrettslaks er distinkt forskjellig fra villaksens allerede på yngelstadiet Videre identifiserte vi kvalitative fenotypiske trekk på hjertet som var overrepresentert hos død oppdrettsfisk etter avlusing. I en videre studie undersøkte vi effekten av oppdrettsmiljø på hjertemorfologi i tidlige livsstadier eksperimentelt. Mer presist sammenliknet vi produksjon av laks i et simulert naturlig miljø preget av lav temperatur og naturlig fotoperiode (SimNat) med produksjon i et simulert oppdrettsmiljø med forhøyet temperatur og perioder med kontinuerlig lys (SimFarm). Vi fant at oppdrett av laks under mer naturlige forhold (SimNat) resulterte i en hjertemorfologi som i større grad ligner villaksens. Sammenliknet med SimNat-fisken hadde SimFarm-fisken rundere, asymetriske ventrikler og mer avvikende bulbusvinkel etter endt smoltifisering. De viste også symptomer på diastolisk dysfunksjon og økt belastning på hjertet. Disse funnene indikerer at fotoperiode og temperatur påvirker hjertets geometriske remodellering og funksjon. Vi var i denne studien imidlertid ikke i stand til å isolere de spesifikke effektene av de ulike miljøparameterne. For å utforske den mulige effekten av endret lysregime alene, gjorde vi en ny studie der vi utsatte grupper av laks for tre vanlige kommersielle fotoperioder, inkludert kontinuerlig lys og to forskjellige vintersignaler. Eksponering for vintersignal var forbundet med økt relativ hjerte- og ventrikkelvekt og hadde moderate effekter på geometrisk hjertemorfologi. Mer presist så vi at smoltproduksjon under kontinuerlig lys ikke hadde signifikante effekter på kvantitative morfologiske målinger, men var forbundet med et høyere gjennomsnittlig antall avvikende kvalitative trekk sammenlignet med laks som mottok et vintersignal.
I lys av denne kunnskapen som viser at forhøyede temperatur og kommersielle fotoperioder fremmer avvikende hjertemorfologi som også er forbundet med funksjonell belastning, mener vi at disse avvikene kan og bør reduseres i kommersielle settinger ved å implementere lavere temperaturer og naturlige fotoperioder
Linking ecological and social resilience : from bureaucrat to beasts to bystanders : examining management practices and their impact on ecological and social resilience in The Greater Maasai Mara Region
No full textThe Greater Maasai Mara Region (GMMR) represents an important socio-ecological system where biodiversity conservation and the livelihoods of the Maasai community are interdependent. However, colonial legacies and centralized conservation policies have disrupted traditional management practices, leading to socio-economic inequalities, land-use conflicts, and ecosystem degradation. This study examines historical and contemporary management practices in the GMMR, revealing how exclusionary governance models, elite capture, and land privatization have marginalized the Maasai community while prioritizing tourism revenues. By using theoretical frameworks such as Panarchy and the Pressure and Release (PAR) model, the research highlights the rigidities and vulnerabilities embedded within current policies. These rigid practices limit the region’s adaptive capacity to respond to environmental and social changes. The study recommends an adaptive co-management approach that integrates traditional Maasai ecological management practices with contemporary management practices to foster flexible, participatory, and inclusive decision-making processes. Adaptive co-management is identified as the key to enhancing resilience, reducing conflicts, and ensuring sustainable resource management by integrating conservation goals with local needs. The findings emphasize the need for participatory governance, equitable resource distribution, and collaborative stakeholder engagement to restore and sustain the GMMR’s socio-ecological health.B-D
Neuronal Response to Electric Field Stimulation: Cortical Neuron-Type Differences and Influence of Morphological Properties.
Get PDFThe human brain is an incredibly complex organ. Despite significant advances in neuroscience, the complexity of neuronal dynamics presents a major challenge for both understanding and developing effective, non-invasive treatments for neurological disorders. Transcranial electric stimulation is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that shows promising therapeutic potential. Understanding how this stimulation affects different types of neurons is crucial for further development. While the effects of transcranial electric stimulation with direct current or low-frequency alternating current stimulation are well-studied, neuronal responses to high-frequency stimulation remain poorly understood. This limits the development of high-frequency transcranial alternating current stimulation and related approaches such as temporal interference. With the goal of increasing our knowledge of the effects of high-frequency stimulation, this thesis used neuroinformatics tools to simulate electric field stimulation across a wide range of frequencies, applied to both morphologically detailed and idealized neuron models. To assess the responsiveness of different neuron types and morphologies, the amplitude of the membrane potential in the soma was recorded. Results indicate that inhibitory interneurons exhibit higher somatic membrane potential amplitudes than pyramidal neurons at frequencies above 60 Hz. These findings point to a possible inhibitory effect of high-frequency electric field stimulation, which could be beneficial in developing non-invasive treatments for conditions like epilepsy or depression. At a stimulation frequency of 1000~Hz, the morphologies investigated showed limited influence on the soma membrane potential response. This was likely due to increasingly similar membrane current dynamics across different morphologies observed at high-frequency stimulation. The membrane current dynamics relate to the soma membrane potential amplitude via the dipole moment, which was found to reflect similar frequency dependencies as the soma membrane potential amplitude response