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Validation and Comparative Analysis of FLACS-CFD and Phast for Ammonia Release and Dispersion
Full text linkAmmonia is increasingly recognized as a potential zero-carbon energy carrier, particularly in maritime applications. However, its toxic and hazardous properties require accurate simulation tools for risk assessments of potential accidental releases. This thesis investigates the capabilities of two simulation tools, FLACS-CFD and Phast, for modeling atmospheric dispersion of ammonia, using experimental data from INERIS as a benchmark.
Fifteen experiments were conducted involving both gaseous and liquid ammonia releases under varying atmospheric conditions and configurations. Five of these experiments are studied and simulated. FLACS-CFD, a computational fluid dynamics software, and Phast, which relies on integral models, were validated against measured concentration data. Key differences in model performance were observed, particularly in scenarios involving obstacles and complex terrain, where Phast's limitations in geometry handling became apparent.
Despite higher computational demands, FLACS-CFD demonstrated a stronger correlation in scenarios with obstacles. However, in open-field conditions, Phast generally yielded comparable or better agreement with experimental results. Sensitivity analyses revealed that the choice of atmospheric stability class and surface roughness significantly influence the simulation results. The findings underscore the importance of model selection based on the complexity of the scenario and highlight the value of continued validation efforts to ensure safe and effective use of ammonia in future energy systems.Masteroppgave i energiENERGI399I5MAMN-ENE
Ex Vivo Demonstration of a Novel Dual-Frequency Ultrasound Method for Quantitative Measurements of Liver Fat Content
Full text linkObjective
The rise in metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease prevalence, closely linked with metabolic syndromes and obesity, demands accurate, cost-effective diagnostic methods for early-stage fat quantification in the liver. Here we demonstrate a novel dual-frequency ultrasound method that enables the quantitative measurement of liver fat fraction ex vivo and its correlation with actual fat content.
Methods
A total of 24 Wistar rats were divided into four different groups, where three groups were given a high-fat diet for 2, 4, and 6 wk, and the last group was given a control diet for 6 wk. Livers were imaged with ultrasound ex vivo in a water bath with a dual-frequency ultrasound transducer and experimental imaging protocol implemented on the Verasonics Vantage research ultrasound scanner. Ultrasound data were post-processed to estimate the non-linear bulk elasticity parameter and the liver samples were analyzed with respect to fat fraction and triglycerides.
Results
Rats given a high-fat diet had increased mean levels of liver fat compared with the control group. More importantly, correlation between the ultrasound-based estimation of the non-linear bulk elasticity parameter and fat fraction and triglycerides on an individual level was found to be strong (R2 = 0.81, p = 5.8 × 10-9 and R2 = 0.72, p = 3.6 × 10-7, respectively).
Conclusion
This study demonstrates the potential of the novel dual-frequency ultrasound method for the quantitative measurement of liver fat fraction in excised rat livers, showing great promise for this method to become clinically relevant in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with fatty liver disease.publishedVersio
Loneliness in old age: A qualitative study of which elements influence older people`s perception of loneliness and health
No full textVerdens befolkning blir stadig eldre, noe som øker behovet for helse- og omsorgstjenester. Det er essensielt at eldre kan bo hjemme så lenge som helsen tillater det, slik at man har muligheten til å opprettholde disse tjenestene. For at eldre skal kunne bo hjemme, er det viktig at de har informasjon om hvilke helsefremmende tilbud som er tilgjengelige for dem. Denne studien ønsker å avdekke faktorer som fører til ensomhet blant hjemmeboende eldre, slik at man kan forebygge både ensomhet og sosial isolasjon. Studiens hovedproblemstilling er: Hvilke faktorer kan være med å påvirke eldre menneskers opplevelse av ensomhet og helse? Denne problemstillingen utforskes videre gjennom disse tre forskningsspørsmålene: 1. Hvordan opplever hjemmeboende eldre i Bergen kommune sin egen ensomhet, 2. hvilken rolle har koronapandemien hatt for eldres opplevelse av egen helse, og 3. hvordan kan man bidra til bedre helse blant eldre? Det er benyttet en kvalitativ metode med en fenomenologisk tilnærming i denne studien. Datamaterialet ble samlet inn ved å bruke semistrukturerte intervju. Deltakerne i studien består av åtte hjemmeboende eldre over 80 år i Bergen kommune, som alle benyttet seg av aktivitetssentre. Deltakerne opplevde at sosial støtte og tilgang til møtesteder var viktige forebyggende faktorer for å motvirke ensomhet. Denne studien konkluderer med at det finnes flere forebyggende tiltak i kommunen, men at informasjonen om disse tiltakene ikke oppleves tilfredsstillende for alle i denne eldregruppen.The world’s population is gradually growing older, which increases the need for health care services. To maintain these services, it is essential that elders live at home for however long their health allows. For them to be able to live at home, it is important to have information about which health promotion services are available. This study wishes to uncover elements that may lead to loneliness among elderly living at home and to prevent both loneliness and social isolation. The study aims to answer: Which elements influence older people`s perception of loneliness and health? This issue is further explored in these research questions: 1. How do elderly people in Bergen municipality experience their own loneliness, 2. What role has the corona pandemic had on elderly`s perception of their own health, and 3. How can one contribute to better health among elderly? A qualitative method with a phenomenological approach has been used in this study. The data material was gathered by using semi-structured interviews. The participants in this study consist of eight elderly people over the age of 80 living alone in Bergen municipality, and they all use activity centers. The participants´ experience of social support and access to meeting places were important preventative measures against loneliness. This study concludes that there are several preventative measures, however information about these measures is not perceived as satisfactory by all in this group of elderly.Masteroppgave i helsefremmende arbeid og helsepsykologiHEFR395MAPS-HEF
Becoming a Canon : Texts, Community and Authority in the Canonization of Minhāj al-ṭālibīn wa-ʿumdat al-muftīn on the Swahili Coast, 1856-1963 CE
Full text linkMinhāj al-ṭālibīn wa-ʿumdat al-muftīn er en svært viktig fiqh-tekst skrevet av den syriske shāfiʿī-juristen Zakariyyāʾ Yaḥyā b. Sharaf al-Nawawī (631/1233-676/1277). På Swahili-kysten, som ligger på den vestlige bredden av Det indiske hav, har Minhāj lenge vært brukt som undervisningsmateriell i madrasaene (skolene) og referansemateriale i qāḍī-domstolene (muslimske domstoler) i Barawa, Lamu, Mombasa og Zanzibar. Den omfattende bruken av Minhāj i sentrale didaktiske og rettslige rom betyr at det var en autoritativ tekst som spilte en viktig rolle i å lære og forme holdninger til islamsk rettsvitenskap. Som et resultat kan Minhāj anses å ha blitt kanonisk i løpet av det nittende og begynnelsen av det tjuende århundre, som var en periode preget av betydelige sosiale, politiske, pedagogiske og teknologiske endringer på Swahilikysten. Denne studien søker å identifisere og undersøke agentene og prosessene som gjorde kanoniseringen av Minhāj mulig i en periode preget av betydelige transformasjoner og endringer. Med utgangspunkt i analysen av tekster, fellesskap og autoritet som viktige komponenter i den tekstlige kanoniseringsprosessen, undersøker denne avhandlingen spørsmålene om valg og validering av juridiske tekster, interessentene og deltakerne som er involvert, og den kanoniske statusen til Minhāj. Det forklarer prosessene som skaper, opprettholder og utvikler kanoniske tekster innenfor bestemte samfunn i tider med endring og brudd.Minhāj al-ṭālibīn wa-ʿumdat al-muftīn is an essential fiqh text authored by the Syrian Shāfiʿī jurist Zakariyyāʾ Yaḥyā b. Sharaf al-Nawawī (631/1233-676/1277). On the Swahili coast, situated in the western littoral of the Indian Ocean, the Minhāj has long been used as teaching material in the madrasas (schools) and reference material in the qāḍīs’ courts (Muslim courts) in Barawa, Lamu, Mombasa, and Zanzibar. The extensive use of the Minhāj in critical learning and judicial spaces means that it was an authoritative text that played a vital role in learning and shaping attitudes toward Islamic jurisprudence. As a result, the Minhāj could be considered to have become canonical during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which was a period marked by consequential social, political, educational, and technological changes on the Swahili coast. This study seeks to identify and examine the agents and processes that facilitated the canonicity of the Minhāj during a period marked by significant transformations and shifts. Drawing on the analysis of texts, community, and authority as vital components in the textual canonisation process, this research investigates the questions of selection and validation of legal texts, the stakeholders and participants involved, and the canonical status of the Minhāj in order to untangle the processes through which textual canons are developed or remain canonical within particular communities during times of change and rupture.Doktorgradsavhandlin
Expression of a Human Carboxyl-Ester Lipase Mutation in Mice: Implications for Pancreatic Cancer Development
Full text linkPancreatic cancer is a highly challenging disease, characterized by poor prognosis, late
diagnosis and very little progress in therapy over the last decades. Pancreatic ductal
adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common form of pancreatic cancer and is believed to
originate from acinar cells undergoing ductal transformation. While activating mutations in the
KRAS oncogene are present in over 90% of PDAC cases, they are alone insufficient for
tumorigenesis. Studies have demonstrated that patients with pancreatic cancer are more likely
to carry germline mutations in pancreatic enzyme genes which cause endoplasmic reticulum
(ER) stress. One of the enzymes that may be implicated is carboxyl ester lipase (CEL). A
pathogenic variant of the protein (CEL-MODY) cause the MODY8 syndrome and is associated
with protein misfolding, aggregation and induced ER stress in pancreatic acinar cells.
On this background, we aimed to investigate whether CEL-MODY may contribute to pancreatic
cancer development. To explore this, we examined pancreatic tissue from mice that in addition
to expressing oncogenic KRAS in their pancreas, carried none, one or two alleles of the Cel
MODY mutation (denoted KC, KCChet and KCChom mice, respectively). Our analyses focused
on: (1) tissue remodeling of the pancreas, (2) proliferation of exocrine cells, and (3) Imaging
Mass Cytometry (IMC) of multiple protein markers.
The results revealed a progressive increase in acinar to ductal remodeling, fibrosis, and PanIN
formation across genotypes: least in KC mice, more in KCChet and most in KCChom animals.
KCChet mice exhibited increased ductal cell proliferation, as measured by Ki67 expression,
compared to KC mice. Intriguingly, ductal proliferation on KCChom animals was similar to that
observed in the KC model. Cell proliferation in pancreatic areas of normal morphology showed
a stepwise increase with increasing Cel-MODY dosage. IMC also uncovered genotype-specific
differences in the expression of selected protein markers, such as increased CD45 expression
in KCChet and KCChom mice compared to KC animals.
In summary, our findings provide evidence that the ER stress-inducing Cel-MODY mutation
may contribute to pancreatic carcinogenesis, with increasing mutation dosage correlating with
more pronounced pathological changes.Masteroppgave i molekyl�rbiologiMOL399MAMN-MO
Nye perspektiver på lensherrene : Forskningsstatus og muligheter i studiet av Norges styresmenn 1537–1660
Full text linkDenne artikkelen undersøker lensherrene, som styrte Norge på vegne av den dansk-norske kongen i perioden 1537 til 1661. Til tross for at disse personene spilte en svært viktig rolle, er det overraskende lite forskning og litteratur om dem. Artikkelen sammenligner lensherrene i 1560 med dem i 1630, og finner at den norske adelen ble skjøvet ut av lensvesenet og erstattet av danske menn. Likevel ble ikke den norske adelen erstattet av en ny, fastboende dansk adel i Norge. Selv etter flere generasjoner i norske len ble lensherrenes barn født og oppdratt i Danmark. Omtrent halvparten av lensherrene var selv ikke sønner av lensherrer, noe som tyder på at kongen bevisst forsøkte å forhindre at enkeltfamilier ble for mektige.
I artikkelen pekes det på flere problemstillinger for videre forskning, som lensherrenes familiebakgrunn, utdanning, militære erfaring og nettverk. Det argumenteres for at ny teknologi og store språkmodeller nå åpner for nye forskningsprosjekter på flere nivåer.publishedVersio
Skuls from Papua New Guinea: A case study of human remains position in two Norwegian museums
No full textNede i magasinene til Universitetsmuseet i Bergen, kan man finne en enslig dekorert hodeskalle fra Papua Ny-Guinea. Hodeskallen er godt bevart og formet til å ligne den avdøde personen som hodeskallen originalt tilhørte. I opprinnelsessamfunnet i Papua Ny-Guinea gjorde folk dette fordi de trodde at den avdødes ånd ville vende tilbake til hodeskallen etter døden. Dette stiller spørsmål som: Hvorfor befinner det seg en forfedre hodeskalle fra Papua Ny-Guinea i Bergen?
I denne masteroppgaven kommer jeg til å diskutere hvorfor det er menneskelige levninger i museum og om disse objektene burde bli returnert. Hodeskallene fra Papua Ny-Guinea ble ervervet under den koloniale perioden og representerer en mørkere side av historie. Som oftes vil slike objekter miste sitt originale meningskontekst og dermed blir rekontekstualisert for å passe inn i vestens konsept av museumsobjekter.
Datamaterialet i denne oppgaven omhandler en hodeskalle fra Universitetsmuseet i Bergen og to hodeskaller fra utstillingen ARV fra Kulturhistorisk Museum i Oslo. Jeg intervjuer to fagfolk med lasjoner til hodeskallene. Med dette skal jeg se hvordan to norske museer bruker hodeskallene i to ulike museumspraksisene. Selv om datamaterialet er lite, kan vi se en stor forskjell i måten de to museene bruker hodeskallene på og deres forståelse av materialet.
Materialet som presenteres viser to forskjellige praksiser, en der de ikke viser hodeskallen basert på hodeskallenes opprinnelige kontekst og som menneskelige levninger. Den andre måten blir den bruket på en praktisk måte. I utstillingen ARV er hodeskallene plassert med gjenstander fra andre steder i verden og relikvier fra middelalderen, som plasserer hodeskallen i samme tidslinje. Hodeskallene framstilles som utdaterte og uaktuelle i dag, mens sannheten er at kulturgruppene hodeskallene tilhører er like viktige og aktuelle i dag. Forskningen viser hvordan de vitenskapelige og etiske sidene av debatten har både viktige perspektiver når det gjelder bruk av menneskelige levninger og problemet med hjemsendelse og gjenbegravelse.
Basert på de to eksemplene viser den et tomrom for ansvar og representasjon, og reiser spørsmål som: Bør det være en felles standard for bruk og representasjon av menneskelige levninger på tvers av norsk museum?In the archive of Bergen University Museum, we can find a lonely ancestral skull from the Sepik River area of Papua New Guinea. The skull is well crafted and shaped to look like the living person the skull once belonged to. In the original culture it is believed that the soul of the dead would once again return to their skull. So why is one of these ancestral skulls in Bergen?
In this thesis I will discuss the reason for why there is human remains in Norwegian museum and if object made of human remains should be returned. Objects like the head skull from Papua New Guinea were taken during colonial period and represent a dark time in histories. Often than not, object with such connotation will lose the original meaning they hold, and therefore get recontextualised to fit into western concept as a museum object.
With one head skull in Bergen University Museum’s magazine and two skulls at an exhibition in Oslo called ARV. I interviewed two people with relation to the skulls in Norwegian museums, one from the University Museum in Bergen and the other form the University Museum in Oslo. With this I will see how Norwegian museums use the skulls in these two different museum practices. Even though the data material is small we can see a vast difference in the way the two museums use the head skulls and their understanding of the material.
The material presented shows two different practices, one in which they do not show the skull based on its original context and as human remains. The other one uses it in a practical way. In the exhibition ARV, the skulls are placed with objects and other relics from the Middle Ages, which places the skull in the same timeline. The skulls are presented as outdated and not relevant today, while the truth is that the cultural groups the skulls belong to are just as important and relevant today. The research shows how the scientific and ethical sides of the debate have both important perspectives regarding the use of human remains and the problem of repatriation and reburial.
Based on the two examples, it shows a void for responsibility and representation, raising questions such as: Should there be a common standard of use and representation of human remains across Norwegian museum?Kunsthistorie mastergradsoppgaveKUN350MAHF-KU
Proporsjonalitetsvurderingen ved nasjonale restriksjoner på de fire frihetene i EU/EØS - En sammenligning av Høyesteretts anvendelse av det EØSrettslige proporsjonalitetsprinsippet og EU-domstolens anvendelse av det EU-rettslige proporsjonalitetsprinsippet på nasjonale restriksjoner på det indre markedets fire friheter
Full text linkMasteroppgaveJUS399MAJURMAJUR-
Do second-order elections produce second-order governments? How national and regional factors influence the composition of regional governments
Full text linkRegional elections are broadly considered second-order elections, where voters tend to punish parties in national government and favor opposition, small, and new parties instead. Regional government formations are also influenced by national factors, as coalitions are more likely to form if a regional government is congruent with the national government. Nevertheless, how national and regional factors interact, and impact regional government compositions has received little attention. This article argues that national incumbency is both an asset and a liability for a party seeking to enter regional government. However, the extent to which a party's national government status matters for entering regional government is conditional upon the political system, the timing of a regional election relative to the national election, and the level of regional authority.publishedVersio
The prevalence of childhood bullying and violence victimization and subsequent risk of adult revictimization in the Norwegian population: A cross-sectional study
Full text linkRevictimization research has largely ignored bullying victimization, and knowledge of the association between childhood bullying and adulthood revictimization is scarce. Research is also needed to explore whether bullying exposure in combination with childhood violence exacerbates the risk of revictimization. This study sought to address these research gaps in a national probability sample of Norwegian adults (N = 4,299, age range: 18–74 years). One in five (n = 838) reported that they had experienced bullying in childhood or adolescence. Approximately half of these individuals (49.0%, n = 459) reported new victimization in adulthood, including controlling behavior from a partner, rape, and/or severe physical violence. Regression analyses confirmed that survivors of bullying had significantly higher odds of experiencing victimization in adulthood compared to individuals who did not experience any form of childhood victimization, aOR = 1.52, 95% CI [1.24, 1.87], p < .001, highlighting the unique association between bullying and adult revictimization in this population-based sample. This risk was exacerbated for individuals who had experienced both childhood violence and bullying (n = 879, 8.9%), with four-fold higher odds of experiencing new victimization as an adult, compared to those who did not experience childhood violence or bullying, aOR = 4.16, 95% CI [3.23, 5.35], p < .001. Bullying and violence have typically been studied in separate research fields and traditions. These findings call for integrated research and prevention efforts at both the individual and contextual levels to address multiple forms of violence and prevent repeated violence exposure throughout the lifespan.publishedVersio