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Thermal and/or Microwave Treatment: Insight into the Preparation of Titania-Based Materials for CO2 Photoreduction to Green Chemicals
Get PDFTitanium dioxide was synthesized via hydrolysis of titanium (IV) isopropoxide using a sol–gel method, under neutral or basic conditions, and heated in the microwave-assisted solvothermal reactor and/or high-temperature furnace. The phase composition of the prepared samples was determined using the X-ray diffraction method. The specific surface area and pore volumes were determined through low-temperature nitrogen adsorption/desorption studies. The photoactivity of the samples was tested through photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide. The composition of the gas phase was analyzed using gas chromatography, and hydrogen, carbon oxide, and methane were identified. The influence of pH and heat treatment on the physicochemical properties of titania-based materials during photoreduction of carbon dioxide have been studied. It was found that the photocatalysts prepared in neutral environment were shown to result in a higher content of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and methane in the gas phase compared to photocatalysts obtained under basic conditions. The highest amounts of hydrogen were detected in the processes using photocatalysts heated in the microwave reactor, and double-heated photocatalysts.publishedVersio
Tilstandsindikatorer for vegnettet – metode for beregning av tilstandsindikatorer publisert mars 2023
Get PDFNotatet oppsummerer arbeidet med utvikling av metode for beregning av tilstandsindikatorer på vegbredde, bæreevne og Tunnelsikkerhetsforskriften med publiseringsdato i NVDB 31. mars 2023.publishedVersio
Impact of seawater temperature and physical-chemical properties on sorption of pharmaceuticals, stimulants, and biocides to marine particles
Get PDFPharmaceuticals, stimulants, and biocides enter the environment via wastewater from urban, domestic, and industrial areas, in addition to sewage, aquaculture and agriculture runoff. While some of these compounds are easily degradable in environmental conditions, others are more persistent, meaning they are less easily degraded and can stay in the environment for long periods of time. By exploring the adsorptive properties of a wide range of pharmaceuticals, stimulants, and biocides onto particles relevant for marine conditions, we can better understand their environmental behaviour and transport potential. Here, the sorption of 27 such compounds to inorganic (kaolin) and biotic (the microalgae Cryptomonas baltica) marine particles was investigated. Only two compounds sorbed to microalgae, while 23 sorbed to kaolin. The sorption mechanisms between select pharmaceuticals and stimulants and kaolin was assessed through exploring adsorption kinetics (caffeine, ciprofloxacin, citalopram, fluoxetine, and oxolinic acid) and isotherms (ciprofloxacin, citalopram, and fluoxetine). Temperature was shown to have a significant impact on partitioning, and the impact was more pronounced closer to maximum sorption capacity for the individual compounds.publishedVersio
Quality of Lipids During Frozen Storage of Polychaete (Alitta virens) - a Low Trophic Marine Resource Relevant for Aquaculture Feed
Get PDFLipid quality during frozen storage of the low trophic marine resource polychaete (Alitta virens) was evaluated after blanching, vacuum packing, and different storage temperatures (−23°C vs −27°C). In non-blanched samples, free fatty acid (FAA) reached a level of 15–20% after 12-months of frozen storage. 1H and31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses showed that the increase in FFA could be attributed to both hydrolysis of phospholipids and triacylglycerols. Vacuum packing prevented lipid oxidation. Blanching hindered lipid hydrolysis and is thereby recommended to preserve valuable phospholipids during long-term frozen storage of polychaete, a resource that has attracted growing interest for use in aquaculture.publishedVersio
Report on methodological innovations of iterative FCM sessions - deliverable 2.1 COMPAREIT
Get PDFThis report is a deliverable in the Compareit project, and presents work conducted between 2021 and 2023, a period in which the Norwegian aquaculture industry has undergone development of new production systems for salmon farming, and the introduction of a new tax regime. This report presents the result from discussions conducted in a series of workshops with industry representatives. These results will form the foundation for future work, in which we will produce future scenarios for the development of the Norwegian aquaculture industry.Report on methodological innovations of iterative FCM sessions - deliverable 2.1 COMPAREITpublishedVersio
Navigated ultrasound bronchoscopy with integrated positron emission tomography—A human feasibility study
Get PDFBackground and objective: Patients suspected to have lung cancer, undergo endobronchial ultrasound bronchoscopy (EBUS) for the purpose of diagnosis and staging. For presumptive curable patients, the EBUS bronchoscopy is planned based on images and data from computed tomography (CT) images and positron emission tomography (PET). Our study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a multimodal electromagnetic navigation platform for EBUS bronchoscopy, integrating ultrasound and segmented CT, and PET scan imaging data.
Methods: The proof-of-concept study included patients with suspected lung cancer and pathological mediastinal/hilar lymph nodes identified on both CT and PET scans. Images obtained from these two modalities were segmented to delineate target lymph nodes and then incorporated into the CustusX navigation platform. The EBUS bronchoscope was equipped with a sensor, calibrated, and affixed to a 3D printed click-on device positioned at the bronchoscope’s tip. Navigation accuracy was measured postoperatively using ultrasound recordings.
Results: The study enrolled three patients, all presenting with suspected mediastinal lymph node metastasis (N1-3). All PET-positive lymph nodes were displayed in the navigation platform during the EBUS procedures. In total, five distinct lymph nodes were sampled, yielding malignant cells from three nodes and lymphocytes from the remaining two. The median accuracy of the navigation system was 7.7 mm.
Conclusion: Our study introduces a feasible multimodal electromagnetic navigation platform that combines intraoperative ultrasound with preoperative segmented CT and PET imaging data for EBUS lymph node staging examinations. This innovative approach holds promise for enhancing the accuracy and effectiveness of EBUS procedures.publishedVersio
Real-world implementation of the Copenhagen Adduction Exercise: what do football teams modify and why?
Get PDFObjectives: To evaluate the use and modification of the Copenhagen Adduction Exercise in football (soccer) teams, including the reasons for modification and alternate injury-prevention strategies. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, staff members from a convenience sample of 50 male elite, academy and amateur football teams in Norway, Germany and Austria completed an online questionnaire focussing on the implementation of the Copenhagen Adduction Exercise. Fourteen of the staff members also completed an interview. Results: Forty-two teams (84%) reported using the Copenhagen Adduction Exercise, but the majority (65%) had modified the original programme. Modifications included changes to sets, repetitions, progressions and frequency and were particularly common among elite teams. The main reasons for modifications were managing overall player load, experiences and beliefs and individualisation. Despite modifications, all teams followed the basic principles of the original programme. Conclusion: The adoption of the Copenhagen Adduction Exercise by football teams is high, but the vast majority of teams modify the programme. Despite these modifications, the basic principles of the programme are maintained.publishedVersio
Kommuners ansvarsforståelse, drivere og barrierer for sikring av bebyggelse mot flom og skred
Get PDFThis article maps out the range of municipalities’ responsibility to implement permanent preventive measures against natural peril risk for the built environment. The responsibility is interpreted in the context of their responsibility for climate change adaptation, civil protection and to ensure construction on safe ground. Interviews substantiate that the applicable law and municipalities’ understanding of responsibility do not correspond. The municipalities mainly do not implement preventive measures at their own expense in cases where the national government has not provided funding. Spatial planning and emergency preparedness gets priority. A few legal sources tend to have led to deviant administrative practices, in combination with a lack of resources. There is a need for a clarification of the interface and placement of responsibility. For the municipalities to become more proactive the most obvious is to use opportunities that already exist, such as reimbursement access.publishedVersio
Socioeconomic determinants of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in Norway: a registry study
Get PDFBackground: Previous research has shown that socioeconomic status (SES) is a strong predictor of chronic disease. However, to the best of our knowledge, there has been no studies of how SES affects the risk of Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) that has not been based upon self-reporting or retrospectively screening of symptoms. As far as we know, this is therefore the first study that isolate and describe socioeconomic determinants of ME/CFS and calculate how these factors relate to the risk of ME/CFS diagnosis by utilizing individual level registry data. This allows for objective operationalization of the ME/CFS population, and makes it possible to model SES affect the risk of ME/CFS diagnosis, relative to control groups.
Data and methods: We conduct a pooled cross-sectional analysis of registry data from all adult patients diagnosed with ME/CFS from 2016 to 2018 in Norway, coupled with socioeconomic data from statistics Norway from 2011 to 2018. We operationalize SES as household income and educational attainment fixed at the beginning of the study period. We compare the effects of SES on the risk of ME/CFS diagnosis to a population of chronically ill patients with hospital diagnoses that share clinical characteristics of ME/CFS and a healthy random sample of the Norwegian population. Our models are estimated by logistic regression analyses.
Results: When comparing the risk of ME/CFS diagnosis with a population consisting of people with four specific chronic diseases, we find that high educational attainment is associated with a 19% increase (OR: 1.19) in the risk of ME/CFS and that high household income is associated with a 17% decrease (OR:0.83) in risk of ME/CFS. In our second model we compare with a healthy population sample, and found that low educational attainment is associated with 69% decrease (OR:0.31) in the risk of ME/CFS and that low household income is associated with a 53% increase (OR: 1.53).
Conclusion: We find statistically significant associations between SES and the risk of ME/CFS. However, our more detailed analyses shows that our findings vary according to which population we compare the ME/CFS patients with, and that the effect of SES is larger when comparing with a healthy population sample, as opposed to controls with selected hospital diagnoses.publishedVersio
Parametric investigation, formulation, and benchmarking of energy consumption for the powder bed fusion process
Get PDFEnergy consumption is an important metric used to evaluate the sustainability potential of manufacturing processes. Due to the low volume and mass customization potential, additive manufacturing (AM) processes have experienced exponential growth in recent years, resulting in heightened ecological consciousness surrounding energy usage. Gaining insight into the energy-intensive sub-systems and sub-processes and identifying strategies for their minimization enables manufacturers to save on energy costs and also aids in reducing their carbon footprint. This study delves into the energy consumption characteristics of the powder bed fusion (PBF) process, particularly selective laser melting (SLM). Through experimental investigation, we investigate how certain factors impact energy usage, namely capacity utilization, layer thickness, and part orientation. We present a novel formulation for estimating primary and total energy consumption in PBF processes, offering a comprehensive energy consumption model. Our results demonstrate significant energy savings with increased capacity utilization—up to a 32.68% reduction in total energy consumption (TEC) per part. Layer thickness variations show the lowest TEC at 25 μm, which can be attributed to the SLM machine's reduced operational time and energy usage of auxiliary components. Furthermore, altering part orientation for the given case study yielded a 50% reduction in TEC, highlighting orientation as a critical factor in energy efficiency. Our formulation, benchmarked against experimental data and specific energy consumption (SEC) values from the literature, effectively captures these parameters' influence on energy usage. The insights from this research advance our understanding of energy dynamics in SLM processes and pave the way for more energy-efficient practices in AM.publishedVersio