USN Open Archive (University of South-Eastern Norway)
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Numerical simulation of hydrogen dispersion in an open-ended rectangular channel
No full textIn this work, large-eddy simulations of hydrogen dispersion from turbulent subsonic hydrogen-gas emissions in a 5.8 × 0.9 × 0.8 m open-ended channel are described. Such numerical modeling of hydrogen-related processes can provide new insights into the safety aspects of hydrogen, an increasingly more common energy carrier, particularly related to explosion hazards. Ten simulations, with jet mass flow rates ranging from 0.08 g/s to 1.27 g/s, have been simulated using the open-source OpenFOAM® 10 suite. The predicted concentrations in the channel are compared to corresponding experimental data, generally showing good agreement. Two distinct dispersion regimes are observed from the numerical data; a strongly stratified “filling box” regime is found for hydrogen mass flows g/s, whereas a more homogenized “fading box” regime emerges for higher mass flows. Based on the local Froude number in the channel, a novel model for the momentum length scale of the hydrogen jet is proposed, applicable to downward, strongly buoyant (i.e., non-Boussinesq) jets. It is demonstrated that the ratio of this length scale to the vertical length scale of the geometry can be used to predict the dispersion regime, which may benefit simplified predictive models for hydrogen concentrations and, consequently, ignition risks.publishedVersio
Maximal Resistance Training in the Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa – A Case Report Series
No full textObjective: Anorexia Nervosa (AN) has one of the highest mortality rates of all mental health disorders, low recovery rate and is associated with widespread endocrine dysfunction. Resistance training (RT) has been consistently shown to provide beneficial effects on health outcomes that are often negatively affected by AN, however participation in exercise is controversial for individuals with AN. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of maximal RT as an add-on to standard of care in patients with AN.
Methods: Originally, a controlled clinical trial was planned but due to COVID-19 pandemic, the study was prematurely ended and reported as a case series design. Three female inpatients with AN (Age 18-29 years, body mass index (BMI) 14.5-16.3 kg/m2, illness duration 1-7 years) underwent a supervised 6-week RT intervention as an add-on to standard of care. Primary outcome was muscular strength, as measured by a 1-repetition maximum. Secondary outcomes included BMI, eating disorder psychopathology and maladaptive exercise tendencies.
Results: No adverse events were reported. All three participants improved lower body muscle strength, ranging from 32% to 134% in the leg press. Changes of 4% to 134% in the bench press and -3% to 38% in the pulldown were also observed.
Conclusions: RT improved muscular strength in the participants. RT as part of standard of care may also provide additional benefits for individuals with AN, although further research is required to determine which subtype of patients would benefit from the addition of RT to their treatment protocol.publishedVersio
Improved Multiphase Flow Performance Using AICV and its Potential Impact on Reservoir Recovery
No full textThe global energy demand is growing, and oil and gas supply and consumption will evolve in the coming years. It is important to maintain the current oil production to meet the global energy demand. A major challenge in oil production is low oil recovery. Inefficient oil recovery can be due to the early gas and/or water breakthrough in the production wells. It is therefore essential to develop technologies that can overcome the challenges related to gas and/or water breakthrough and consequently contribute to sustain the oil production and increase the oil recovery.
Different types of inflow control devices (ICDs), passive and autonomous, reduce the negative effects of early gas and/or water breakthrough. Passive ICD was first developed in the 1990s and is today a proven method to improve the oil production and recovery. Additionally, autonomous inflow control devices (AICDs) have become a standard solution for many horizontal wells at the Norwegian Continental Shelf due to the promising results from many field installations. The autonomous inflow control valve (AICV) was developed in 2012 as a result of a continuous effort to develop technologies that contribute to improve the oil recovery. AICVs can choke back gas and water more than other existing technologies.
This PhD thesis addresses the key issues related to improved oil recovery using different types of flow control devices. The thesis focuses on testing and simulation of AICV under different reservoir conditions and for different applications. When gas and water breakthrough occurs, the water cut (WC) and the gas volume fraction (GVF) vary over time in the breakthrough zones. The multiphase flow behavior of the AICV in these breakthrough zones is important for the total recovery along the well. The main goal is to improve the multiphase flow performance of the AICV for use in thin-oil-rim reservoirs, and reservoirs using enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods. The potential impact of the improved AICV performance on increased oil recovery is investigated by utilizing different types of commercial simulators.
The AICV design and multiphase behavior of AICV are improved. Several AICV prototypes were tested under realistic reservoir conditions to find the optimum design. The piston dimension and shape, the combination and dimensions of pilot flow elements, the housing dimension, and the inlet dimension and design are changed to obtain a better multiphase flow behavior.
Experimental work and simulation study were combined to achieve the main objective. The experiments were conducted in different setups and consist of mainly one-phase and multiphase flow tests for ICD and AICV using water, gas, and oil as the reservoir fluid. Simulations were performed with selected reservoir simulation tools. Reservoirs using steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) and CO2 for EOR in addition to thin-oil-rim reservoirs face a number of challenges that AICV can potentially mitigate. The relevant conditions for SAGD/CO2-EOR and thin-oil-rim reservoirs were used in the experiments and simulations.
The results from the experiments show that AICV restricts the gas and water flow rates significantly compared with an orifice-type ICD, in particular at higher GVF. This behavior makes the AICV technology unique compared with other inflow control technologies. The gas flow rates over the AICV and ICD at a 3-bar differential pressure are about 0.1 m3/h and 3.8 m3/h respectively, indicating that the gas reduction by using AICV is significant. The water flow rates for AICV and ICD at 3 bar are 0.07 m3/h and 0.44 m3/h, respectively. The simulations show that the gas/steam reduction can be up to 64% and the increase in oil production can reach up to 15%. Reduction in steam production will improve the overall SAGD operation performance. In addition, AICV in comparison with ICD, reduces the water and CO2 volume flow rates by approximately 58% and 82%, respectively. The results obtained from the corresponding simulations for a case study with CO2-EOR show that the production of water- CO2 is reduced by 20%. Choking back CO2 by using AICV may give a better distribution of CO2 in a larger area of the reservoir. This leads to a broader contact between CO2 and the residual oil in the reservoir, resulting in increased EOR. For the case study with light oil in a thin-oil-rim reservoir, at a 15-bar pressure drop, the gas and water flow rates through the passive ICD are approximately 7.35 and 2.4 times more than the flow rates through the AICV. The results indicate that the gas and water reduction by using AICV is significant. The simulations show that the oil production can be increased by approximately 48%. In addition, the wells completed with AICVs, keep the gas to oil ratio (GOR) at a relatively low level and this allows the wells to produce for a longer period at a high liquid rate without needing to choke back because of high GOR. It can be concluded that deployment of AICVs in the most challenging light oil reservoirs with high GOR can be beneficial in terms of increased production and recovery.
Mathematical models were developed for density and kinematic viscosity within the Bayesian statistical inference framework. The predictive accuracy of the models were validated against measurements, and it was within 90%. The models are based on the experimental data obtained during this work and can be used further to develop a model for AICV behavior. In addition, a model to describe the behavior of AICV was derived based on dimensional analysis. The model can be used in the experimental design and will significantly reduce the required number of experiments.
All the experiments and simulations demonstrate that the improved multiphase flow performance using AICV has a significant potential for increased oil production and recovery.publishedVersio
Representasjoner innen skeiv ungdomslitteratur: en analyse av Bianca Torre is Afraid of Everything og The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School
No full textDenne avhandlingen utforsker nylige trender rundt skildringen av skeive mennesker innen for sjangeren skeiv ungdomslitteratur. Ved bruk av nærlesnings metode, analyserer jeg to bøker: Justine Pucella Winans’ (2023) Bianca Torre is Afraid of Everything og Sonora Reyes’ (2022) The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School. I denne analysen ser jeg på hvordan trendene rundt representasjoner i skeiv ungdomslitteratur er reflektert. Jeg diskuterer også hvordan skeiv ungdomslitteratur og disse bøkene spesifikt er relevante for læreplanen og engelske kompetansemål.This thesis explores recent trends surrounding depictions of queer people within queer YA literature. Through the method of close reading, I analyze two books: Justine Pucella Winans’ (2023) Bianca Torre is Afraid of Everything and Sonora Reyes’ (2022) The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School. Within these two novels, I look at how the trends of representations in queer YA is reflected. I also discuss how queer YA and these two novels in particular is relevant to the curriculum and English competence aims
Factors influencing the intention to purchase health insurance: a study of Indian tobacco and alcohol consumers
No full textIntroduction: This study empirically investigates the attitude of tobacco and alcohol consumers towards health insurance purchase in India. The study aims to determine the factors which plays a significant role in determining the purchase intention of health insurance among tobacco and alcohol consumers.
Methods: We propose an extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) model comprising factors like attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavior control, perceived usefulness, perceived product risk, and intention to purchase. We collected responses from 420 tobacco and alcohol consumers through a Google Form link shared via different social media platforms. SPSS has been used to perform exploratory factor analysis, whereas AMOS has been used to validate the constructs, confirm the relationships among the variables, and analyze the data.
Results: The analysis outcomes demonstrate that subjective norms, perceived product risk, and perceived behavioral control are the factors that have a positive and significant effect on health insurance purchase intention among consumers.
Discussion: This research offers valuable insights to the insurance sector, government officials, policymakers, and academicians. Insurance companies may consider the criteria analysed when creating policies to promote the expansion of the health insurance sector.publishedVersio
Role-Play in the Norwegian EFL Classroom
No full textThis master’s thesis investigates the effect role-play can have on English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ speaking fluency, willingness to communicate (WTC) and speaking and listening self-efficacy. By using a mixed methods approach including classroom observations, pre- and post-questionnaires and a pre-and post-speaking test, this study aims at filling a research gap in Norwegian EFL classrooms regarding the use of role-play. The participants were four 5th-grade Norwegian EFL classes divided into two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The theoretical framework includes David Kolb’s experiential learning theory (ELT), Albert Bandura’s social cognitive learning theory (SCLT) and Merrill Swain’s output hypothesis. The results indicate that role-play does have a positive effect on Norwegian EFL 5th-grade learners’ speaking fluency and speaking self-efficacy
Tilhørighet hos de yngste barna i et spesialpedagogisk perspektiv: En kvalitativ intervjuundersøkelse av pedagogiske ledere sine erfaringer i møte med barn med behov for særskilt tilrettelegging
Get PDFDenne masterstudien har undersøkt hvilke erfaringer pedagogiske ledere har med tilhørighet for de yngste barna i barnehagen, knyttet til barn med behov for særskilt tilrettelegging, der hvor barna har vedtak knyttet til § 31 eller §37 i barnehageloven (2005). Problemstillingen i denne masteroppgaven er Hvilke erfaringer har pedagogiske ledere i barnehagen med å skape tilhørighet for barn i alderen 1-3 år, som har behov for særskilt tilrettelegging?
Studien bygger på en kvalitativ tilnærming igjennom semistrukturerte intervjuer med fem pedagogiske ledere som har erfaring med barn i alderen 1-3 år, som har behov for særskilt tilrettelegging. Funnene er analysert med tematisk analyse og resultatene viser at når deltakerne snakker om erfaringer med å skape tilhørighet handler det om felleskap, relasjoner og kommunikasjon. Pedagogene sin erfaringer med de yngste barnas som har behov for særskilt tilrettelegging sin tilhørighet fremtrer som komplisert og mangfoldig, da det er mange faktorer som er med på påvirke barnas muligheter for å oppleve tilhørighet.
Basert på pedagogene sine erfaringer er det å gjøre ting sammen, samt hvordan dette er organisert, viktig med tanke på barnas forutsetninger for deltagelse i felleskapet og opplevelse av tilhørighet. I avgjørelser knyttet til organisering av avdelingen, rutiner og felles aktiviteter, viser det seg at faglig skjønn spiller en sentral rolle i forhold til hvilke valg og prioriteringer pedagogene gjør. I et relasjonelt perspektiv tar pedagogene sin erfaringer utgangspunkt i å skape relasjoner basert på et felles fokus, hvor det felles tredje skaper en opplevelse av å være en del av et «vi». Det å være sammen om en felles opplevelse med et delt engasjement, kan medføre at barna får en forbindelse og en tilknytning til hverandre, som øker muligheten for at man opplever tilhørighet. For de yngste barna som har behov for særskilt tilrettelegging er også ansatte som er nære og på gulvet sammen med barn viktig, for at de skal kunne oppleve deltakelse og være en del av felleskapet. Basert på deltakerne sine erfaringer, er kommunikasjonsstøtte for barn med lite talespråk en essensiell forutsetning for at barna skal kunne oppleve tilhørighet og deltagelse i felleskapet. Med utgangspunkt i erfaringene til deltakerne i studien handlet kommunikasjonsstøtten om å klare å tolke barnets kroppsspråk og signaler riktig. For å gi barn med lite tale språk eller barn med nonverbal kommunikasjon en stemme inn i felleskapet, satte de ansatte ord på barnets behov og ønsker, og fungerte som en «høyttaler» for barnet, ut mot de andre barna på avdelinge
Digitalization in the operating theatre- an interview study of operating room nurses’ and nurse anesthetists’ experiences in Norway
Get PDFBackground; Digitalization in the health sector requires adaptive change in human attitudes and skills. The operating theatres have been introduced to digital innovations through centuries. The aim of this study was to explore operating room (OR) nurses’ and Nurse Anesthetists’ (NAs) experiences with digitalization in the operating theatre.
Methods; The study had a qualitative design, using individual interviews with OR nurses and NAs at a Norwegian hospital. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis in-line with recommendations from Braun & Clarke.
Results; Two themes were identified, namely (1) Impacting the work processes, and (2) Implications for patient safety. The OR nurses and NAs experienced that digitalization impacted on their work processes positively through making these smoother, but also negatively making the work processes vulnerable for disruptions, leading to a need for parallel actions. Digitalization was experienced to positively impact patient safety for example through making information more accessible. However, digital tools reduced focus on the patient, and then represented a risk to patient safety.
Conclusion; OR nurses and NAs perceive that digitalization on one side may facilitate work processes and information flow. However, on the other side digitalization may steel focus on the patient. These aspects should be taken into consideration in quality improvement initiatives and when introducing new digital tools.publishedVersio
Thinking and acting outside the box: The co-existence of formal bureaucratic integration and informal street-level integration in municipal health and social care services
Get PDFIntegration of health and social care services is the recommended approach for people with concurrent mental health and substance abuse problems. Integrated service approaches can, however, be difficult to achieve due to organizational and financial barriers. This is a study of practice-level service integration in municipal health and social care organizations that provide services to people with mental health and substance abuse problems. More precisely, we study the co-existence of formal and informal integration in a service field which is threatened by cost-savings and cuts in resource use. The study is designed as a qualitative single-case study, with three Norwegian municipalities as case organizations. The empirical data consists of a combination of in-depth individual interviews, focus group interviews and observations of decision meetings. This material is analysed with a deductive thematic analysis approach based on theories concerning formal integration and street-level diplomacy. The findings reveal that commitment to the goal of service integration can be both symmetrical and asymmetrical between managers and professionals. Co-existence between formal bureaucratic integration and informal street-level integration is possible if the commitment is symmetrical, and if professionals are granted increased autonomy and less formal control.publishedVersio
Samarbeid mellom barnehageledelse og flyktningforeldre i barnehagen
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Denne masteroppgaven undersøker samarbeidet mellom nyankomne kongolesiske og rwandiske flyktningeforeldre uten formell skolegang og norske barnehager. Gjennom individuelle intervjuer med fire flyktningeforeldre fra Kongo og Rwanda, undersøkes deres erfaringer med norsk barnehage. Hovedproblemstillingen er: «Hvilke erfaringer har nyankomne kongolesiske og rwandiske flyktningeforeldre uten skolegang med samarbeidet med norsk barnehage?» Drøftingen fokuserer på hvilke implikasjoner disse erfaringene har for hvordan barnehageledelsen kan fremme et mer inkluderende og godt samarbeid med flyktningeforeldre. Det er begrenset forskning på foreldresamarbeid med nyankomne flyktningeforeldre uten skolegang. Denne studien tar sikte på å fylle dette kunnskapshullet, noe som kan være verdifullt både for praksisfeltet og videre forskning.
Et fokus på flyktningeforeldre uten skolegang er valgt for å forstå hvordan barnehagen kan øke sin kompetanse i samarbeid med denne spesifikke gruppen. Studien benytter en kvalitativ forskningsmetode med semistrukturerte intervjuer med fokus på foreldrenes erfaringer med barnehagen. Flyktningeforeldrene opplevde barnehagepersonalet som vennlige og respektfulle, men språkbarrierer og mangel på tolker skapte utfordringer, spesielt i tilvenningsperioden og hente- og bringesituasjonene. Frykten for barnevernet hemmet kommunikasjon og samarbeid, mens bedre språkkunnskaper hos foreldrene over tid bedret situasjonen. Informantene understreket behovet for tolketjenester og kulturell forståelse fra barnehagens side . Drøftingen belyser viktigheten av kunnskaps- og kompetanseheving for å bygge gode relasjoner med flyktningeforeldre. Det diskuteres hvordan barnehagepersonalet kan forbedre sin kompetanse for å forstå og møte flyktningeforeldrenes kultur, samt viktigheten av språk som en kilde til god kommunikasjon. Studien bidrar med ny innsikt i samarbeidet mellom nyankomne flyktningeforeldre uten skolegang og norske barnehager. Studien understreker behovet for å tilrettelegge for inkluderende praksiser og støttetjenester som tar hensyn til flyktningeforeldrenes unike behov og bakgrunn . Et forslag til videre forskning er å undersøke hvordan myndighetene kan samarbeide tett med ulike institusjoner, som barnehager og andre aktører som har tilgang til flyktninger, for å bygge nettverk mellom majoritets- og minoritetsforeldre slik at de kan hjelpe hverandre