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Appeasing Russia: Evaluating Hypothetical NATO Appeasement and Its Geopolitical Consequences for Europe
Full text linkWith the Trump Administration cutting back on its support for Ukraine, NATO cohesion is being undermined as the consensus on supporting Ukraine is being challenged by NATO’s most powerful member state. With support for Ukraine in dispute and the United States pivoting to Asia to focus on China, the question arises of which policy NATO should pursue in the Russo-Ukrainian War, and whether appeasement should be pursued towards Russia. Offensive realist John Mearsheimer has advocated for appeasing Russia since 2014, and with Donald Trump once again in power with his known pro-Russian sympathies, appeasement presents itself as a viable option. This thesis evaluates a hypothetical NATO appeasement towards Russia and its potential geopolitical consequences for Europe. And importantly, who could benefit the most from appeasement: NATO or Russia? This thesis aims to provide insight into policy considerations regarding what is arguably the most pressing issue in European security of our time, and whether appeasement could be a more beneficial option for NATO than continued support for Ukraine
Exploring views and practices of sustainable agriculture among Uzbek cotton farmers
Full text linkExploring views and practices
of sustainable agriculture
among Uzbek cotton farmer
Analyse av krypens effekt på horisontalt forspente dekker i krysslimt tre (CLT) og samvirkedekker av CLT og betong
Full text linkMiljø og bærekraft har fått økt fokus i byggebransjen, ettersom sektoren globalt står for omtrent 37 % av de totale klimagassutslippene (Programme & Architecture, 2023). Dette har ført til en økt interesse for bruk av tre som konstruksjonsmateriale, men treverk er ikke like effektivt som betong når det gjelder dekker over lengre spenn. Massivtredekker har utfordringer knyttet til komfortkriterier som nedbøyning og vibrasjoner ved større spennvidder, og det er derfor behov for utvikling av innovative løsninger for å gjøre treverk mer konkurransedyktig.
Amlien og Kalstø (2019) utforsket dette i sin masteroppgave, hvor de undersøkte bruken av horisontal forspenning i massivtredekker og i samvirkedekker av CLT og betong. Deres arbeid fokuserte på de umiddelbare effektene av forspenning, men tok ikke for seg langtidseffekter. Denne oppgaven vil derfor undersøke hvordan effekten av kryp påvirker noen av de mekaniske og dynamiske egenskapene seks år etter dekkene ble konstruert.
Før testene ble utført, ble deformasjonen fra egenvekten undersøkt. Massivtredekkene viste en gjennomsnittlig økning i opphøyning på 7,34 mm, som utgjorde en økning på 64%. Derimot hadde samvirkedekkene en reduksjon i opphøyning, og de hadde en gjennomsnittlig nedbøyning på 40,3 mm, som tilsvarte en reduksjon på 43,4 mm.
Det ble utført nedbøyningstester med ulike lastscenarioer for å få et godt sammenligningsgrunnlag. Testene resulterte i en økende bøyningsstivhet. Massivtredekkene viste en gjennomsnittlig økning på 6,7 % i bøyningsstivheten, mens samvirkedekkene hadde en gjennomsnittlig økning på 4,5 % i bøyningsstivheten.
Vibrasjonstestene viste en økning i egenfrekvensen for både massivtredekkene og samvirkedekkene, noe som samsvarer med økningen i stivhet. Den andre egenfrekvensen viste den største forandringen: massivtredekkene hadde den største økningen, mens samvirkedekkene viste en reduksjon. Dette indikerer at stivheten har økt spesielt mye for den andre svingformen i massivtredekkene, mens den er redusert i samvirkedekkene.
Siden resonansforholdene var annerledes i denne oppgaven sammenlignet med oppgaven til Amlien og Kalstø (2019), ble det ikke mulig å fastslå hvordan effekten av kryp påvirker akselerasjonsforholdene. Dempningsforholdene viste en liten trend mot reduksjon, men endringen var såpass liten at den eneste forsvarlige konklusjonen er at dempningen forble uendret.
Massivtredekkene oppfylte nedbøyningskravet i henhold til gjeldende Eurokode, men tilfredsstilte verken akselerasjonskravet eller hastighetskravet i den nye versjonen av Eurokoden. Samvirkedekkene oppfylte også nedbøyningskravet og besto nesten alle vibrasjonskravene i den nye Eurokoden, med unntak av hastighetskravet.Environmental and sustainability concerns have gained increased focus in the construction industry, as the sector globally accounts for approximately 37% of total greenhouse gas emissions (Programme & Architecture, 2023). This has led to a growing interest in using timber as construction material. However, timber is not as efficient as concrete when it comes to spanning longer distances. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor systems face challenges related to serviceability criteria such as deflection and vibrations at larger spans. Therefore, there is a need to develop innovative solutions to make timber more competitive.
Amlien og Kalstø (2019) explored this in their master’s thesis, where they investigated the use of horizontal post-tensioning in CLT floors and composite floors combining CLT and concrete. Their work focused on the immediate effects of post-tensioning, but did not address long-term effects. This thesis therefore examines how creep affects some of the mechanical and dynamic properties six years after the floors were constructed.
Before the tests were conducted, deformation due to self-weight was investigated. The CLT-only floors showed an average increase in cambering of 7.34 mm, corresponding to a 64% increase. In contrast, the composite floors experienced a reduction in cambering, resulting in an average deflection of 40.3 mm, which equates to a reduction of 43.4 mm.
Deflection tests under various load scenarios were performed to provide a solid basis for comparison. The tests showed an increase in bending stiffness. The CLT floors exhibited an average increase of 6.7% in bending stiffness, while the composite floors showed an average increase of 4.5%.
Vibration tests indicated an increase in natural frequency for both the CLT and composite floors, consistent with the observed increase in stiffness. The second natural frequency exhibited the most significant change: the CLT floors showed the greatest increase, while the composite floors showed a decrease. This suggests that stiffness has increased particularly for the second vibration mode in the CLT floors, while it has decreased in the composite floors.
Since the resonance conditions in this study differed from those in Amlien og Kalstø (2019) study, it was not possible to determine how creep affects acceleration behavior. The damping characteristics showed a slight trend toward reduction, but the change was so minimal that the only reasonable conclusion is that damping remained unchanged.
The CLT floors met the deflection requirements according to the current Eurocode, but did not satisfy the acceleration or velocity criteria in the new version of the Eurocode. The composite floors also met the deflection requirement and fulfilled nearly all vibration criteria in the updated Eurocode, except for the velocity requirement
Historic Parks Under Pressure: Urban Transformation of Green Spaces in Istanbul
Full text linkThis thesis explores how rapid urbanization affects historic parks in Istanbul, focusing on two key sites: Validebağ Kurusu (Validebağ Grove) and Yedikule Bostanları (Yedikule Gardens). These parks are important not only for their cultural and ecological value, but also because they serve as community spaces in a city where green areas are shrinking. Both sites face pressure from construction projects, rising land values, and changing government priorities. According to local stakeholders, development plans often ignore their voices and damage the natural and historic features of these areas. At the same time, these stakeholder groups are pushing back through legal action and public protests, with the objective of conserving these parks. Using interviews, field visits, and document analysis, the study shows how conflicting goals—economic growth, green space protection, and heritage conservation—shape the future of urban parks. The research also includes lessons from Ekebergparken in Oslo, Norway, which offers an example of participatory planning and balanced development. While Istanbul often uses top-down decision-making, Oslo’s case highlights the benefits of including community voices
Vaccination against salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) : effects on parasite infestation and specific antibody response
Full text linkIn response to the growing global demand for animal protein, aquaculture becomes a reliable source of sustainable and nutritious food. Norway is recognized as a leading producer of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) to the global marked. However, the sustainability of salmon farming in Norway is threatened by the parasitic copepod Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Lsal), which causes significant economic loss and serious health and welfare concerns. There is a great need to replace the current unsustainable practices of removing sea lice, with preventative measures such as vaccines. Vaccines in aquaculture have demonstrated protective effects against several bacterial and viral diseases in fish. However, despite various efforts, the development of effective vaccines against sea lice has yet to be achieved. This study explores the potential of a candidate vaccine based on crude whole-body Lsal protein to elicit a protective immune response in Atlantic salmon.
Previous studies on candidate vaccines have shown limited or variable success, prompting further exploration of causative agents and the host-parasite complex. The following research investigates intraperitoneal (IP) and intranasal (IN) administration routes to assess their impact on immune responses and lice reduction. This trial was conducted at a fish research facility and
2 in the laboratory. Fish were vaccinated and parasitized in vivo and later evaluated in vitro for specific immunoglobulin/antibody (Ig) levels using the ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) method.
It was found that both IP and IN vaccination reduced lice counts, with IN providing the greatest reduction. However, when analysing the specific antibody levels in the blood plasma of IN-vaccinated fish, they were low, suggesting either innate or mucosal rather than a systemic response. In contrast, low-dose IP vaccination induced a moderate systemic Ig response correlating with reduced lice burden. Regression analysis supported Ig as a predictor of lice burden in the IP group only. Interestingly, unvaccinated cohabitants also showed reduced lice levels, raising questions about the causative factors.
These findings highlight the role of the administration route in shaping immune responses and support further exploration on identifying immunogenic antigens and exploring the role of mucosal surfaces in protective immunity against the salmon louse.The Research Council of NorwayVE
Blir jordskifteretten mer urban? En studie av Sør-Rogaland jordskifterett
Full text linkDagens jordskiftelov gir jordskifteretten kompetanse til å løse utjenlige eiendomsforhold over hele landet. Selv om jordskifte tradisjonelt er forbundet med landbruksområder, har lovens rettsendrende virkemidler et bredt virkeområde. Lovendringer, særlig overgangen fra 1979-loven til 2013-loven, har utvidet jordskifterettens virkeområde og tilpasset den til nye samfunnsbehov.
Formålet med oppgaven har vært å bidra med kunnskap om hvilke områder det kreves jordskifte i, hvordan dette har endret seg over tid og hva som kan ha påvirket dette. Dette gjøres ved hjelp av en kvantitativ innholdsanalyse av totalt 183 saker fra perioden 2006-2024, med særlig vekt på geografisk fordeling, anvendte virkemidler og sakens karakter. Studien besvarer følgende hovedproblemstilling:
I hvilken grad har rettsendrende saker ved Sør-Rogaland jordskifterett gått fra å gjelde tradisjonelle landbruksområder til mer urbane områder, og hvilke forhold har bidratt til denne utviklingen?
Analysen viser at det fremdeles er flest saker i rurale områder, men at andelen i urbane og semi-urbane strøk er økende. Dette kan sees i lys av urbanisering, fortettingspolitikk og endret arealbruk. Samtidig indikerer funnene at virkemidlene er godt egnet til bruk i de urbane og semi-urbane områdene. De organisatoriske virkemidlene med § 3-8 (bruksordning) i spissen, brukes ofte til å løse uenigheter eller legge til rette for felles ordninger. De fysiske virkemidlene med § 3-4 (arealbytte) i spissen, brukes ofte til å rydde opp i eiendomsforhold eller tilrettelegge for utvikling av eiendom.
Resultatene peker på en utvikling der jordskifteretten må være forberedt på økt etterspørsel etter kompetanse i urbane områder. Studien kan derfor bidra med innsikt for fremtidig kompetanseutvikling og ressursallokering (fordeling av ressurser) i jordskifteretten, i tråd med målsettingene i Domstoladministrasjonens strategi mot 2025.The Norwegian Land Consolidation act grants the land consolidation courts authority to resolve inefficient property structures nationwide, regardless of land use designation or planning status. While land consolidation has traditionally been associated with rural and agricultural areas, the Act’s legally transformative tools have a broad scope of applications. Legal developments, particularly the shift from the 1979 Act to the revised 2013 version, have expanded the role of the courts and aligned them with modern societal needs.
The purpose of this study has been to contribute knowledge where land consolidation cases are being filed, how this has changed over time, and what factors may have influenced these developments. The study employs quantitative content analysis of 183 cases from 2006 to 2024, with focus on geographic distribution, applied legal tools, and case characteristics. The thesis addresses the following main research question:
To what extent have legally transformative cases at the Sør-Rogaland Land Consolidation Court shifted from involving traditional agricultural areas to increasingly targeting urban areas, and what factors have contributed to this development?
The analysis show that while most cases still originate in rural areas, the proportion of cases in urban and semi-urban zones are increasing. This trend reflects broader societal changes, such as urbanization, densification policies, and changes in land use. At the same time, the findings indicate that the legal tools are well suited for use in urban and semi-urban contexts. Organizational tools, particularly land use arrangements under § 3-8 (rules of joint use), are frequently used to resolve disputes or facilitate shared arrangements. Physical tools, with land exchanges under § 3-4 (exchange of properties) at the forefront, are often applied to clarify property boundaries or to enable development projects.
The results indicate a development where the land consolidation court must be prepared for an increase in demand for expertise in urban property matters. This study can therefor contribute insight for future competence development and resource allocation within the land consolidation court, in line with the objectives set out in the Norwegian Courts Admnistration’s strategy towards 202
What is the impact of changes in interest rates in U.S. Treasury securities on the Capital Structure of Shipping Companies?
Full text linkThis study presents a statistically robust analysis on how changes in the interest rates of U.S.
Treasury securities impact the capital structure for stock-listed shipping companies. Eight different
regression models are utilized for analysing a sample that covers 20 years of financial data. The
results obtained from static and dynamic OLS regressions are compared to the results from quantile
regression, where capital structure is allowed to vary across the assessed quantiles. Our findings
conclude that changes in interest rates for U.S. Treasury securities have a statistically weak impact
on capital structure for shipping companies.
The statistical models are thoroughly tested for robustness. The random effects model is preferred
over the fixed effect based on statistical evidence. The results obtained from static OLS and
dynamic panel data with GMM are statistically significant. However, results from dynamic panel
data analysis with system GMM, including robust standard errors, are statistically insignificant.
Omitted variable bias is present indicating that the model is unable to fully explain the results
obtained.
The result from the regressions provides weak evidence for pecking order theory and trade-off
theory. For the latter, it appears that firms are adjusting their debt levels to optimize the value of
the tax shield. Book leverage tends to decline for declining interest rates, indicating that retained
earnings are used to reduce debt. As debt levels increase when interest rates increase retained
earnings and debt is used to fund growth.
Book leverage appears to be the preferred variable to emphasize for an investor, this is because
market leverage encompasses the market value of equity in the denominator, causing a false sense
of security; market leverage appears low when asset values are high. This may induce a subtle
additional risk. Additionally, the alternative hypothesis “changes in interest rates have no
significant impact on the capital structure” is accepted due to the weak impact on capital structure
The Prevalence of Blp Bacteriocin Genes in Gut-Associated Streptococci
Full text linkBakteriocin-lignende peptider (Blp-er) er små antimikrobielle proteiner produsert av enkelte bakteriearter, inkludert medlemmer av Streptococcus-slekten. Selv om Blp-er har vært knyttet til mikrobielle konkurranseforhold og strukturering av mikrobielle samfunn, er deres utbredelse og mangfold i menneskets mikrobiomer fortsatt lite kartlagt. Denne oppgaven har som mål å undersøke forekomst, variasjon og mulige økologiske roller til Blp-gener hos Streptococcus-arter som finnes i menneskets tarm, ved hjelp av genomsøk og sekvensanalyse.
Et omfattende søk ble gjennomført ved bruk av profil skjulte Markov-modeller (pHMM-er) for å oppdage Blp-sekvenser i to store genomdatabaser: GTDB og humgut2. GTDB (Genome Taxonomy Database) inneholder høykvalitets referansegenomer, mens humgut2 hovedsakelig består av metagenom-baserte genomer (MAG-er) fra menneskets tarmmikrobiom. Et tredje datasett, HOMD (Human Oral Microbiome Database), ble brukt for å sammenligne Streptococcus-arter fra tarmen med de som primært finnes i munnhulen. Blp-positive sekvenser ble videre karakterisert basert på deres forutsagte fysikalsk-kjemiske egenskaper, og sammenlignet med kjente klasse II-bakteriociner, noe som indikerer funksjonelle likheter. Samforekomst mellom visse Blp-typer ble også observert, noe som kan tyde på koordinert funksjon eller regulering.
Resultatene viste at noen arter, som S. pneumoniae, S. pseudopneumoniae og S. dysgalactiae, konsekvent inneholdt flere Blp-gener, mens andre, som S. gordonii og S. sobrinus, ikke hadde noen påvisbare Blp-gener. Et markant skille i Blp-forekomst ble sett mellom munnhulen og tarmen hos arter som S. mitis og S. oralis, hvor det var en høy forekomst av Blp-gener i munnhulen. Disse funnene samsvarer med tidligere observasjoner av en uventet sammenheng mellom Blp-rikdom og stammediversitet i spedbarns tarmmikrobiom.
Samlet gir denne oppgaven ny innsikt i økologisk distribusjon og mulig funksjon av Blp-gener hos Streptococcus-arter knyttet til mennesker, og legger grunnlaget for videre studier av deres rolle i mikrobiomets stabilitet og mikrobielle interaksjoner
Monitoring Nest Predation in Ground-Nesting Birds in the Low Arctic Tundra - a Test of Methods
Full text linkGround-nesting birds in the Low Arctic tundra are experiencing population declines, with increasing nest predation playing a critical role. Due to climate change, meso-predators like the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and corvids (Corvidae spp.), such as the hooded crow (Corvus cornix) and common raven (Corvus corax), have become more abundant in the changing tundra biome. These generalist predators respond numerically to the influx of biomass in the years with high rodent abundances, hence their populations rise during rodent peak years. The year following a rodent population peak is often referred to as the crash year. During this period, predator numbers remain high and may result in increased predation on ground-nesting birds, which generally lack effective natural defenses.
Studying nest predation in the tundra presents challenges, as conventional camera monitoring methods with visible camera objects are known to impact predation rates. Additionally, former studies have highlighted the differences between artificial nest setups and real nests. Thus, a more discrete monitoring method that can be used on real nests is needed to obtain a more representative predation rate. This study investigates whether smaller and well-hidden cameras influence predation rates on artificial ground nests in the tundra. The more compact and less visible cameras used in this study were hypothesized to not affect predation rates. Furthermore, the predation rates of artificial nests were compared with real nests to assess the validity of artificial nest experiments. Lastly, yearly data on rodent abundance and predation in artificial nests across three locations were analyzed to identify the drivers of interannual variation in predation pressure.
Results indicate that smaller and concealed cameras reduced bias in measuring predation pressure on artificial nests, compared to traditional methods. Additionally, predation probability did not differ significantly between artificial nests monitored by a concealed camera and the control nests without a camera. Furthermore, the comparison of predation probability between artificial nests and two different categories of real nests indicated an overall difference in predation probability among the three groups. However, the comparison showed that artificial nests more closely resembled those of shorebirds (order Charadriiformes) and willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) than to those of arctic-alpine passerines (order Passeriformes), in terms of both predation pressure and appearance. Lastly, the analysis of rodent abundance and artificial nest predation relationship showed that nest predation increased the year after a peak rodent year.
These findings support the development of an unbiased camera monitoring method for real nests, enabling accurate identification of nest predators and true predation rates. Long-term monitoring across all stages of the rodent cycle is necessary, as fluctuations in rodent populations directly impact predation pressure on bird nests. Identifying key predators and quantifying predation rates will allow for targeted conservation measures to prevent further declines in ground-nesting birds in the Low Arctic
Fra leiegård til borettslag: konsekvenser for leietilbudet i indre Oslo by
Full text linkDenne masteroppgaven undersøker hvorfor eiendomsselskaper velger å selge utleiegårder gjennom borettslagsmodellen, og hvilke konsekvenser dette har for leietilbud, leiepriser og beboersammensetning i indre Oslo by. Med utgangspunkt i en kombinasjon av juridisk og økonomisk analyse, statistiske kilder og kvalitative intervjuer, belyses hvordan rammebetingelser og markedstilpasninger påvirker leiemarkedets utvikling.
Analysen viser at borettslagsmodellen brukes som en strategisk tilpasning i møte med økte drifts- og kapitalkostnader, høy formueskatt og forventninger om regelendringer. Modellen muliggjør skattefri realisering av latente gevinster, samtidig som den reduserer gjeldseksponeringen. For eiendomsselskapene innebærer dette økt finansiell fleksibilitet, men også en gradvis tilbaketrekning fra rollen som langsiktige utleieaktører.
Utfasing av profesjonelle utleieboliger har allerede ført til en reduksjon i det totale leietilbudet i indre Oslo. I kombinasjon med befolkningsvekst og prognoser som viser minimal boligtilførsel fremover, forsterkes ubalansen i markedet. Leieprisene stiger, og lavinntektsgrupper, unge og ansatte i samfunnskritiske yrker presses gradvis ut av bykjernen.
Funnene peker på en utvikling mot mer ensartede nabolag preget av høy kjøpekraft, som svekker muligheten for sosial mobilitet og reduserer mangfoldet i boligstrukturen.
Oppgaven viser at borettslagsmodellen allerede har bidratt til strukturelle endringer i utleiemarkedet, og at disse utviklingstrekkene vil forsterkes i årene fremover. Utviklingen utfordrer idealet om sosial bærekraft i bybildet og bidrar til økende klasseskiller. På bakgrunn av funnene anbefales politiske tiltak som kan stimulere til langsiktig utleie, balansere insentivene mellom salg og forvaltning og styrke boligtilgangen for grupper med lavere kjøpekraft. Det anbefales også videre forskning for å identifisere tiltak som effektivt kan dempe de negative effektene og bidra til et mer sosialt bærekraftig leiemarked. Treffsikre tiltak bør utformes i samarbeid med aktørene som kjenner leiemarkedet best og forvalter det i praksis