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Loops of Meaning. A Systems Thinking Approach to Parliamentary Narratives on Deep-Sea Mining
No full textDeep-sea mining (DSM) has emerged as a focal point in global debates over “critical” mineral access, environmental governance and the geopolitical dynamics of the green transition. As international interest in seabed resources intensifies, so too do concerns about the ecological uncertainty, fragmented regulations and resource nationalism.
In January 2024, Norway became the first European country to formally open areas of its continental shelf for mineral exploration. This thesis looks at the political narratives presented in that specific parliamentary hearing, the perceived causalities used to construct these narratives, the relationships between these causalities and how they were justified.
To explore this, the thesis asks: (1) What are the main narratives presented in the parliamentary hearing on DSM? (2) What are the causalities within these narratives? (3) What are the main tensions and assumptions embedded in these narratives? and (4) How do causalities within these narratives contribute to whether one narrative gains more traction than the other?
Drawing on systems thinking and narrative analysis, I use causal loop diagrams to visualize how actors link problems, solutions and values into coherent systems. The empirical material is the Norwegian parliamentary hearing on DSM held on January 9th, 2024.
The analysis identifies two main narratives, one framing DSM as a strategic and sustainable step toward securing mineral independence, the other emphasizing precaution and governance uncertainty. These narratives differ not only in the conclusions, but in their causal logic. By mapping these differences, the thesis aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of how complex environmental decisions are narrated, contested and ultimately shaped.MasteroppgaveSDG350MAHF-SD
The Rebound Effect: Autonomous Ships Rebound Effect on Energy Consumption
No full textThe maritime industry is transforming with autonomous ships driven by advancements in artificial intelligence. This study examines the rebound effect of adopting autonomous ships in Norway, where energy efficiency gains lead to behavioral responses that offset the expected energy savings. Using a system dynamics (SD) modeling approach, the research simulates the impact of autonomous ships on energy consumption and CO2 emissions. The model incorporates variables such as cost savings, fleet size, and operational hours to explore the feedback loop mechanism and system behavior. Initial simulation results show a "super conservation" phase with significant energy savings meaning a negative rebound effect, and as the fleet of autonomous ships expands and operational hours increase, energy consumption rises, creating a positive rebound effect. Feedback loops drive this shift, highlighting the interaction between cost savings, energy efficiency, and investment decisions. This research aims to understand the dynamic relationship between technological adoption and energy consumption in the maritime industry, emphasizing the need for policies to fully achieve the environmental benefits of autonomous ships, aligning with IMO's goal of reducing GHG emissions by 50% by 2050Masteroppgave i systemdynamikkGEO-SD351MASV-SYSDYINTL-JUSINTL-PSYKINTL-MEDINTL-KMDINTL-MNINTL-SVINTL-H
Maternal intake of dietary protein from plant and animal sources and development of pharmacologically treated hypertension within 10 years after pregnancy
No full textAims: To investigate associations between intake of protein from plant and animal sources and risk of development of pharmacologically treated hypertension (defined as antihypertensive medication usage >90 days after delivery) in a large population of Norwegian mothers followed up to 10 years after delivery.
Methods and results: Women in the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) recruited between 2004–2008 were linked to the Norwegian Prescription Database (2004–2013) to ascertain antihypertensive medication usage. Women with hypertension before pregnancy were excluded, leaving 59 967 mothers for analyses. Diet was assessed by a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire in mid-pregnancy. Cox proportional hazard analyses evaluated HRs and 95% CIs for quintiles of intake in multivariable models. A total of 1480 (2.5%) women developed hypertension within 10 years of follow-up. Intake of protein from dairy, particularly milk/yoghurt, was inversely associated with hypertension (HR for highest vs. lowest milk/yoghurt quintile: 0.76, 95% CI 0.65, 0.89, P-trend < 0.001). Intake of red meat protein was positively associated with hypertension (HR for quintile four vs. quintile one: 1.27, 95% CI 1.07, 1.51, P-trend = 0.010). No significant associations were observed for plant-based protein sources.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that intake of protein from dairy sources is inversely associated with hypertension, while protein from red meat is positively associated with developing hypertension up to ten years after pregnancy. This study provides novel contributions to the literature by examining the impact of a diverse array of plant and animal protein sources on the risk of hypertension in women.publishedVersio
Nikon’s transition from military subsidized optical workshop to successful consumer brand, 1917 – 1964 A case study within Japan’s camera industry
No full textThis thesis will examine the circumstances that led to Nikon’s establishment in 1917, the implications of it being a subsidized optical weapons instrument shop to meet the needs of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) until 1945, and its transition and contribution to Japan’s exports promotion after WWII through becoming a successful Japanese consumer production of optics and photographic equipment. By analyzing the trajectory of Nikon’s evolution, this study highlights the historical significance of how state-supported military technologies were successfully repurposed for peacetime industry, underscoring the link between militarization, industrial policy, and postwar economic success.
It will examine the IJN’s investment in self-sufficiency in critical materials because of Japan having been heavily impacted by suspended imports at the outbreak of World War I (WWI) as the primary motivation for establishing the optical weapons instrument shop.
It will discuss the circumstances that presented Nikon with the opportunity of transferring its accumulated knowledge and technology from military equipment to consumer-grade products. These include Nikon’s achievements in optical technology and the policies sanctioned by the Occupation authorities to promote Japan's economic recovery.
It will be examined whether Nikon’s decision in 1946 to develop a camera meant for 35mm film—rather than a twin-lens reflex (TLR), or even a folding camera, which were considerably cheaper and more popular in Japan at the time due the relatively high excise taxes on photographic goods—suggests that their primary goal was to partake in exports and growth of the Japanese economy.Masteroppgave i japanskJAS350MAHF-JASBAHF-JA
Inflammatory markers associated with electroconvulsive therapy response in patients with depression: A meta-analysis
No full textElectroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective intervention for severe unipolar and bipolar depression, yet its drawbacks often lead to its underutilization. Accurate prediction of ECT outcomes is crucial for optimizing patient care and increasing remission rates. This study synthesized existing evidence on the relationship between baseline inflammatory markers and ECT outcomes. Additionally, we explored whether changes in these markers during ECT correlated with symptom improvement. A correlation meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA statement, including a total of fourteen studies (n = 556 patients). The analyses revealed that higher baseline CRP and IL-6 levels were significantly associated with greater depressive symptom reduction post-ECT. Additionally, our findings suggested that increases in kynurenine metabolites and IL-8 during treatment correlated with improved depressive symptoms, offering insights into the mechanistic aspects of depression and ECT. In conclusion, peripheral inflammation in depression, as measured by CRP and IL-6, is associated with better ECT outcomes and may guide treatment stratification. Further research on a broader range of cytokines and kynurenine metabolites is needed to confirm these findings.publishedVersio
Instruktøren sin arbeidshverdag. KNM Tordenskjold
No full textMasteroppgave i operativ ledelse og myndighetsutøvelseEXECUTIVE690EXEC69
Production and Biobanking of Dental Stem Cells for Clinical Applications in Regenerative Dentistry: Current Practices and Future Perspectives – A Narrative Review
No full textObjectives: The aim of the review was to map the current landscape of dental stem cell manufacturing practice and biobanking for clinical use and to identify variable factors that may hinder clinical translation and standardization of dental stem cell-based therapy.
Data sources: An electronic search was performed using Medline/PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, using “Dental stem cells” and “Dental pulp stem cells” as keywords. In addition, ClinicalTrials.gov was used to identify clinical trials of dental stem cells for therapeutic purposes. Relevant articles and bibliographic references from the reviewed studies were used to develop the narrative review.
Study selection: The initial search yielded 48 records from PubMed, 66 from Scopus, 33 from Web of Science, and 23 registered trials from ClinicalTrials.gov. In total, 23 registered trials were identified, of which 14 involved the therapeutic use of dental stem cells in clinical settings. For reviewing the current practices of dental stem cell manufacturing for clinical use, 20 studies were selected for an in-depth full-text analysis, among which fifteen and five articles addressed the ex-vivo expanding cells and chair-side preparation of micrograft containing dental stem cells, respectively.
Conclusion: Although dental stem cells have been applied in clinical settings for regenerative therapies, cell manufacturing practices have varied widely across reported cases, reflecting a lack of standardization. Furthermore, dental-specific challenges—such as logistical constraints and the complex involvement of multiple stakeholders—hinder compliance with stringent regulatory requirements, contributing to slower clinical translation compared to somatic-cell therapy medicine in other fields. This highlights a need for global collaboration among academia, industry, clinicians, and regulators to establish standardized practice, enhance predictability, and ensure long-term traceability.
Clinical significance: Dental stem cells have been used in clinical settings, with private practitioners playing a leading role in translating them into regenerative therapies in dentistry. This trend is expected to accelerate, driven by the growing number of enterprises entering the global dental stem cell biobanking market. Currently, cell manufacturing protocols vary widely across organizations with intricated regulatory framework applied. Furthermore, uncertainties remain regarding the use of long-term cryopreserved dental stem cells and the regulatory interpretation of such products.publishedVersio
Polygenic scores for dizygotic twinning: insights into the genetic architecture of female fertility
No full textPurpose: Natural dizygotic twinning (DZT) results from hyper-ovulation and is an indicator of female fertility. However, some traits linked to DZ twinning are also associated with infertility. We examined the relationship between DZT and female (in)fertility using recent GWAS findings.
Methods: We investigated the genetic architecture of DZT and compared polygenic scores (PGS) for DZT between mothers of naturally conceived DZ twin pregnancies and mothers who required fertility treatments (MAR) in the Netherlands Twin Register (NTR) and the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). We also calculated genetic correlations between DZT and seven fertility related traits.
Results: DZT has a low polygenicity, with only 0.20% of SNPs estimated to have a nonzero effect. The DZT PGS explains 1.6% of variance in DZT liability, and we observe an odds ratio of 2.29 between the first and the tenth PGS deciles. The DZT PGS distinguishes between mothers of naturally conceived pregnancies and mothers who received MAR and is associated with a shorter time to pregnancy in mothers of singletons. The lowest PGSs were observed for mothers who received hormonal ovulation induction, indicating maternal fertility issues. DZT showed genetic correlations with anovulatory infertility (rg = − 0.698) and PCOS (rg = − 0.278), and endometriosis (rg = 0.279).
Conclusions: Female fertility appears to exists on a genetic spectrum, with anovulation/infertility at one end and DZT at the other. Results suggest that the DZT PGS can be of added value to evaluate female fertility and be incorporated in clinical practice in the future.publishedVersio
Size distribution pattern and abundance of Periphylla periphylla in western Norwegian fjords
Get PDFThis thesis investigates the abundance of Periphylla periphylla in Masfjorden (60050`N, 50 30`E) and Fensfjorden, western Norway. The data on which this investigation is based was collected during annual field courses for master’s students at the University of Bergen, using a pelagic and a Multisampler trawl. These methods were employed to assess both the abundance and size distribution of P.Periphylla all through the water column and at specified depths. Environmental parameters such as water temperature, salinity, and oxygen levels were recorded concurrently to shed light on drivers that could influence these observed patterns.
The data material consists of a 10-year time series of environmental variables and depth-stratified biomass data of P.periphylla from Masfjorden from 2012 to 2022 and 3-year data from Fensfjorden from 2020 to 2022. The main objective of this thesis is to analyze these data to provide a possible explanation for the abundance indices (catch per unit effort, CPUE) of P.periphylla over the years and also to investigate the species’ depth distribution and size composition with the basin water oxygen contents in Masfjorden where an extensive basin water oxygen loss occurred.
Our findings, based on these data suggest that there is an increase in the total biomass of P.periphylla recorded in Masfjorden from 2012 to 2022 despite the low oxygen levels recorded in Masfjorden between 2018 -2021. The densest population of P.periphylla was recorded in Masfjorden between 2019 – 2022. The total biomass of P.periphylla in Fensjorden also reveals an increase from 2020 – 2022, which is similar to the increase seen in the total biomass of the jellyfish in Masfjorden. The length measurement of the coronal diameter (CD) of P.periphylla in both fjords reveals that the population of P.periphylla in Masfjorden and Fensfjorden were mostly made up of individuals with a coronal diameter of 10mm to <200mm, with 2 – 3 distinct peaks present in the population recorded from 2020-2022. The population of P.periphylla in both fjords within this period comprises individuals with similar size ranges. This size distribution may explain the influence of advective current on the population size, recruitment, and size ranges of P.periphylla in both fjords. However, large numbers of small individuals of different sizes suggest that successful local recruitment is still taking place in both fjords.Masteroppgave i biologiBIO399MAMN-BIOMAMN-HAVS
How to understand the documentary Buck in the light of resilience?
No full textMasteroppgave i barnevernMABARN35