9 research outputs found
Nida Baseball Team
No full textPhotograph of the Nida Baseball Team. L to R: Back Row: 1. Aden Colbert, 2. Pete, 4. Carl Edland. Front Row: 3. Ed Jefferson, 4. Ruben Meeks. Front Left: Bat Boy. (Also pictured, but not identified are Claude Austin and Dick Roley), c. 1904
Snøskredfarekartlegging og vurdering av skredsikringstiltak ved Rv15, Grasdalen
No full textRv15 gjennom Grasdalen på Strynefjellet er en av mange skredutsatte vegstrekninger i Norge. Strekningen mellom Grasdalstunnelen og Oppljostunnelen har vist seg å være spesielt skredutsatt. Analyser av historiske skredhendelser viser at det er registrert 53 snøskred i vegen langs strekningen siden anleggsarbeidet startet i 1973.
I denne oppgaven kartlegges faren for snøskred langs vegstrekningen mellom Grasdalstunnelen og Oppljostunnelen i Grasdalen i Stryn. Faresonene relateres til Statens vegvesen (2021) sine krav til sikkerhet mot skred i Håndbok N200. Akseptabel risiko for skred langs denne vegstrekningen er 1/50 per km per år i områder hvor trafikken er i flyt.
Oppgaven drøfter videre ulike fysiske tiltak som vil kunne øke sikkerheten mot skred på vegen. De fysiske tiltakene som vurderes er en fangvoll, aktiv snøskredkontroll ved hjelp av snøskredtårn og lysregulering av vegstrekningen ved automatisk skreddeteksjon.
Skredfaren i kartleggingsområdet vurderes på bakgrunn av feltarbeid, analyser av historiske skredhendelser, GIS-analyser og skredsimuleringer i RAMMS:: Avalanche. Det konkluderes med at 700 m av den totalt 900 m lange vegstrekningen i dagen ligger i områder med en årlig sannsynlighet for snøskred ≥1/10 per km, mens hele vegstrekningen ligger i områder med en årlig sannsynlighet ≥1/50 per km.
I vurderingen av en fangvolls effekt som skredsikringstiltak, benyttes skredhastigheter og strømningsmønstre fra skredsimuleringer i RAMMS:: Avalanche ved dimensjoneringen av en 18 m høy og 225 m lang fangvoll. Vollen inkluderes i en terrengmodell av den snødekte skredbanen. Terrengmodellen brukes videre i skredsimuleringsverktøyet RAMMS:: Avalanche hvor fagvollens innvirkning på skredmassene i utløpsområdet vurderes.
Av de tre vurderte skredsikringstiltakene er det aktiv snøskredkontroll ved hjelp av snøskredtårn som gir best resultater. Ved å bruke syv snøskredtårn ser det ut til å være mulig å øke sikkerheten mot snøskred langs vegstrekningen til 1/50 per km per år. Dette forutsetter at metoden fungerer bra i området, og at anlegget driftes aktivt. Den vurderte fangvollen vil mulig kunne fungere effektivt mot snøskred med en returperiode på opp mot 10 år. Et automatisk skredvarslingsanlegg og lysregulering vil ikke være egnet som skredsikringstiltak i området, da stoppestedene for bilister ikke oppnår krav til sikkerhet mot skred.The Norwegian national road 15 through Grasdalen on Strynefjellet is one of many road sections in Norway prone to snow avalanches. The section between Grasdalstunnelen and Oppljotunnelen has proven to be particularly prone to avalanches. Analyses of historical avalanche events along the road section shows that 53 avalanches were registered at the road since the start of construction work in 1973.
In this thesis, the risk of avalanches along the road section between Grasdalstunnelen and Oppljostunnelen in Grasdalen in Stryn is surveyed. The result is a hazard map where the danger zones are related to the requirements of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration for safety against avalanches in the manual named “Håndbok N200” (SVV, 2021).Acceptable risk of avalanches along the road section is 1/50 per km per year where the traffic is moving.
The thesis further discusses various physical measures that can increase the safety against avalanches on the road. The physical measures that are considered are, i) catchment walls forming avalanche reservoirs, ii) preventive avalanche release by using avalanche towers and, iii) light regulation of the road section by automatic avalanche detection.
The risk of avalanches in the mapping area has been assessed on the basis of fieldwork, analyses of historical avalanches, GIS analyses and avalanche simulations using RAMMS:: Avalanche. It is concluded that 700 m of the total 900 m long road section, which does not pass through the avalanche gallery, is in areas with an annual probability of avalanches ≥1/10 per km, while the entire road section is in areas with an annual probability ≥1/50 per km.
As a part of the assessment of a catchment dam's effect as an avalanche protection measure, avalanche speeds and flow patterns from avalanche simulations in RAMMS:: Avalanche was used in the dimensioning of an 18 m high and 225 m long wall forming a catchment dam accommodating the avalanche volume. The dam is included in a high-resolution terrain model of the snow-covered avalanche path. The terrain model is further used in the avalanche simulation tool RAMMS:: Avalanche, where the effect of the catchment dam on the avalanche masses is assessed.
Of the three avalanche protection measures assessed, preventive avalanche release using avalanche towers gives the best results. By using seven avalanche towers, it seems possible to increase safety against avalanches along the road section to 1/50 per km per year. This presupposes that the method works well in the area, and that the towers are actively operated. The catchment dam can possibly be able to function effectively against avalanches with a return period of up to 10 years. An automatic avalanche detection system operating stop lights is not suitable as an avalanche protection measure in the area, because the emergency parking zones for vehicles do not guarantee safety against oncoming avalanches
Snøskredfarekartlegging og vurdering av skredsikringstiltak ved Rv15, Grasdalen
No full textRv15 gjennom Grasdalen på Strynefjellet er en av mange skredutsatte vegstrekninger i Norge. Strekningen mellom Grasdalstunnelen og Oppljostunnelen har vist seg å være spesielt skredutsatt. Analyser av historiske skredhendelser viser at det er registrert 53 snøskred i vegen langs strekningen siden anleggsarbeidet startet i 1973.
I denne oppgaven kartlegges faren for snøskred langs vegstrekningen mellom Grasdalstunnelen og Oppljostunnelen i Grasdalen i Stryn. Faresonene relateres til Statens vegvesen (2021) sine krav til sikkerhet mot skred i Håndbok N200. Akseptabel risiko for skred langs denne vegstrekningen er 1/50 per km per år i områder hvor trafikken er i flyt.
Oppgaven drøfter videre ulike fysiske tiltak som vil kunne øke sikkerheten mot skred på vegen. De fysiske tiltakene som vurderes er en fangvoll, aktiv snøskredkontroll ved hjelp av snøskredtårn og lysregulering av vegstrekningen ved automatisk skreddeteksjon.
Skredfaren i kartleggingsområdet vurderes på bakgrunn av feltarbeid, analyser av historiske skredhendelser, GIS-analyser og skredsimuleringer i RAMMS:: Avalanche. Det konkluderes med at 700 m av den totalt 900 m lange vegstrekningen i dagen ligger i områder med en årlig sannsynlighet for snøskred ≥1/10 per km, mens hele vegstrekningen ligger i områder med en årlig sannsynlighet ≥1/50 per km.
I vurderingen av en fangvolls effekt som skredsikringstiltak, benyttes skredhastigheter og strømningsmønstre fra skredsimuleringer i RAMMS:: Avalanche ved dimensjoneringen av en 18 m høy og 225 m lang fangvoll. Vollen inkluderes i en terrengmodell av den snødekte skredbanen. Terrengmodellen brukes videre i skredsimuleringsverktøyet RAMMS:: Avalanche hvor fagvollens innvirkning på skredmassene i utløpsområdet vurderes.
Av de tre vurderte skredsikringstiltakene er det aktiv snøskredkontroll ved hjelp av snøskredtårn som gir best resultater. Ved å bruke syv snøskredtårn ser det ut til å være mulig å øke sikkerheten mot snøskred langs vegstrekningen til 1/50 per km per år. Dette forutsetter at metoden fungerer bra i området, og at anlegget driftes aktivt. Den vurderte fangvollen vil mulig kunne fungere effektivt mot snøskred med en returperiode på opp mot 10 år. Et automatisk skredvarslingsanlegg og lysregulering vil ikke være egnet som skredsikringstiltak i området, da stoppestedene for bilister ikke oppnår krav til sikkerhet mot skred
Design og konstruksjon av vaffel-lagende robot
No full textBacheloroppgaven gikk ut på å fysisk konstruere en robotarm som skulle påføre røre på to vaffeljern, med plass til to vafler hver. Dette skulle kunne gjentas til det ikke var mer vaffelrøre igjen. Deretter skulle en vaskeprosess kunne igangsettes, for å rengjøre slanger, pumpe, tank og ventil. Man endte opp med et design der det var koblet en slange fra en 10l-gryte (som fungerte som tank for vaffelrøren) til en trykkvannspumpe. Pumpen pumpet så røren opp til ventilen, som var festet til tuppen av robotarmen. En ventil som var normalt lukket. Ventilen åpnet seg et gitt tidsintervall når robotarmen hadde nådd posisjonene hvor vaffelrøre skulle påføres. Slik fortsatte den til det hadde blitt påført røre ved alle de fire posisjonene. Deretter stoppet den opp ved utgangsposisjonen, og ventet på et signal startknappen for å kunne gjennomføre prosessen på nytt, helt til det var tomt for vaffelrøre. En oppgave som ville kreve at kunnskaper fra de fleste obligatoriske –og ikke obligatoriske programfag måtte tas i bruk. Spesielt obligatoriske fag som maskinkonstruksjon og 3D-modellering, samt valgfaget styringsteknikk. En var på forhånd også klar over at kunnskap som strakk seg utover pensumet måtte tilegnes. Med andre ord en spennende oppgave, men også utfordrende og krevende. Det har vært et gjennomgående fokus under utformingen av robotarmen at de totale kostnadene skulle holdes så lave som mulig, og nyinnkjøpte deler skulle være så få som mulig. Dette fordi det er universitet/fakultet som tok regningen, og styrte et budsjett, men også fordi gjenbruk og miljø var viktige stikkord. Målet var å få så lave kostnader at dette vil være et mer prisgunstig alternativ for fakultet enn å kjøpe en industriell robotarm og programmere denne til å utføre oppgavene. Dette innebar blant annet at samtlige bære-deler, bortsett fra kulelager, bolter og muttere, ble laget selv, av materialer fra “skraphaugen” på universitets-verkstedet. Ved kjøp av eksterne deler, som motorer, ledninger, ventiler m.m., har også lav pris vært et viktig stikkord. På grunn av dette så ble ikke det ytre designet det mest estetiske. Funksjon har trumfet estetikk i alle ledd. Det overordnede målet har til enhver tid vært at robotarmen skulle kunne utføre dens oppgaver. En konkluderte til slutt med at robotarmen klarte å gjennomføre de oppgavene den var tiltenkt. Den oppnådde ønskede posisjoner, og rett mengde røre ble tilført vaffeljernet ved disse posisjonene. Man var likevel ikke helt tilfreds med brukersikkerheten og brukeropplevelsen knyttet til håndteringen av produktet. Så man bestemte seg for, foreløpig, at robotarmen kun skulle tas fram ved spesielle anledninger, og kun tas i bruk av kvalifisert opplært personell. Man ønsker også at robotarmen er i stand til å gjennomføre flere oppgaver enn det den kan i dag, som f.eks. å løfte lokkene til vaffeljerna, og ta vafler av vaffeljerna
Platinum Group Element Mineralization in the Reinfjord Ultramafic Complex - A geochemical and petrological study of the PGE-enriched parts of the RF-4 drill core
No full textThe Reinfjord Ultramafic Complex (RUC), a part of the Seiland Igneous Province (SIP), is located in Nord-Troms, Norway. The RUC constitutes parts of deep seated magmatic conduit system that comprises a low tenor PGE-reef. In the RF-4 drill core, the reef is located at a depth of approximately 62 m, where the Pd+Pt concentration reaches around 0.8 ppm. This thesis places its emphasis on investigating the PGE mineralization of the RF-4 drill core, in order to obtain knowledge regarding the formation mechanisms of the reef. The thesis also compares the results with the mineralization found in the RF-1 drill core. Chemical data was provided by ICP spectrometry, SEM and EPMA, while preliminary investigations was done by optical microscopy.
The PGE host rock in RF-4 is a dunite, containing mostly olivine, with minor clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene. Interstitial carbonates and amphibole is also present. The RF-4 drill core revealed a wide variety of PGM's, where bismuthotellurides, arsenides and sulfurarsenides are the most common phases. Other phases comprise antimonides and PGE alloys. The PGM's are often BMS associated, where both pentlandite and pyrrhotite are common hosts. The presence of the PGE-arsenides-and sulfurarsenides, set the mineralization in RF-4 apart from that of RF-1. Possible scenarios explaining the differences in PGM assemblage are localized gain of As from surrounding rocks, removal by hydrothermal fluids or vertical displacement of As-rich zones due to tectonics.
The author suggest that the PGM's formed from sulfide fractionation, and the concentration process is thus magmatic. Further, the author propose the possibility of PGM's exsolving from an iss, due the PGM's often showing an affinity to Cu-rich pyrrhotite. PGM's can also be found associated with serpentine, sometimes showing remainders of BMS, indicating high degrees of serpentinization. Serpentinization is also responsible for the breakdown of chalcopyrite, leading to the formation of native Cu. Stability field calculations with constant bulk composition a.k.a a pesudosection was done for a mineral assemblage comprising amphibole, orthopyroxene, olivine and magnesite, which represents a secondary volatile phase. The model propose that re-mobilization of PGE and Au could happen at high P ( bar) and mid-to-high T ( K) conditions. Pd would be more soluble in the fluid compared to Pt, and the Pd-cluster in RF-1 could thus be the result of such processes
A 2-year observational study of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis converting to glatiramer acetate from other disease-modifying therapies: the COPTIMIZE trial
No full textStudies suggest that patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who do not benefit from other disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) may benefit from converting to glatiramer acetate (GA). COPTIMIZE was a 24-month observational study designed to assess the disease course of patients converting to GA 20 mg daily from another DMT. Eligible patients had converted to GA and had received prior DMT for 3-6 months, depending on the reasons for conversion. Patients were assessed at baseline and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. In total, 672 patients from 148 centers worldwide were included in the analysis. Change of therapy to GA was prompted primarily by lack of efficacy (53.6 %) or intolerable adverse events (AEs; 44.8 %). Over a 24-month period, 72.7 % of patients were relapse free. Mean annual relapse rate decreased from 0.86 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.81-0.91] before the change to 0.32 (95 % CI 0.26-0.40; p < 0.0001) at last observation, while the progression of disability was halted, as the Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores remained stable. Patients improved significantly (p < 0.05) on measures of fatigue, quality of life, depression, and cognition; mobility scores remained stable. The results indicate that changing RRMS patients to GA is associated with positive treatment outcomes. � 2014 The Author(s)
Perspectives on ethnic and racial disparities in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias: Update and areas of immediate need
No full textAlzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRDs) are a global crisis facing the aging population and society as a whole. With the numbers of people with ADRDs predicted to rise dramatically across the world, the scientific community can no longer neglect the need for research focusing on ADRDs among underrepresented ethnoracial diverse groups. The Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART; alz.org/ISTAART) comprises a number of professional interest areas (PIAs), each focusing on a major scientific area associated with ADRDs. We leverage the expertise of the existing international cadre of ISTAART scientists and experts to synthesize a cross-PIA white paper that provides both a concise “state-of-the-science” report of ethnoracial factors across PIA foci and updated recommendations to address immediate needs to advance ADRD science across ethnoracial populations. © 2018 The Author
Mitochondria, neurosteroids and biological rhythms : implications in health and disease states
No full textMitochondria are considered as the “powerhouses” of cells because they synthesize the universal source of energy under the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules via oxidative phosphorylation from nutritional sources. Thus, impaired mitochondrial function, especially in neurons that have high energy requirements, lead inevitably to disease, ranging from subtle alterations in neuronal function to cell death and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The purpose of this PhD thesis was therefore to deepen our understanding of the regulation of mitochondrial function and to identify key factors that are critical in the control of mitochondrial bioenergetics and dynamics. To achieve this goal, the thesis was divided into two main parts:
1) Since a growing body of evidence suggests that neurosteroids have a strong neuroprotective potential, the first part is based on the hypothesis that neurosteroids may exert a determinant action against neurodegeneration by improving mitochondrial bioenergetics, (A) under “healthy” conditions as well as (B) under pathological conditions (AD);
2) In the second part (C), we determined whether the biological clock, which coordinates a whole range of daily behaviors and physiological processes, is involved in the endogenous regulation of mitochondrial dynamics and bioenergetics.
(A) In the first part of this thesis, we aimed to characterize the bioenergetic modulating profile of a panel of seven structurally diverse neurosteroids (progesterone, estradiol, estrone, testosterone, 3alpha-androstanediol, DHEA and allopregnanolone), known to be involved in brain function regulation. Our key findings were that: i) the majority of these steroids increased energy metabolism, mainly via an up-regulation of the mitochondrial activity and at least in part via receptor activation, and ii) neurosteroids regulated redox homeostasis by increasing the antioxidant activity as a compensatory mechanism to the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level enhancement which might result from the acceleration in oxygen consumption accompanied by a greater electron leakage from the electron transport chain. Additionally, each neurosteroid seems to have a specific bioenergetic profile.
Together, these first data indicated that neurosteroids were indeed able to boost mitochondrial function in a delicate balance, possibly by regulating the expression of genes involved in glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, but also the content and activity of mitochondrial respiratory complexes. Further investigations are required to determine the underlying molecular mechanisms.
(B) Based on these findings, we investigated in the next step whether neurosteroids were able to alleviate AD-related bioenergetic deficits. We distinguished the effects of several neurosteroids on ATP synthesis, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis in two AD cellular models overexpressing either the amyloid precursor protein and amyloid-beta peptide (APP/Abeta) or the mutant form of tau producing abnormally hyperphosphorylated tau proteins, respectively. Key findings were that: i) APP/Abeta and mutant tau-overexpressing cells present distinct bioenergetic impairments, with APP/Abeta having the strongest deleterious effect on mitochondrial function; ii) the male steroid hormone, testosterone, was more efficient to alleviate mitochondrial deficits induced by APP/Abeta, whereas female steroid hormones, progesterone and estrogen, were more efficient to increase bioenergetic outcomes in our model of AD-related tauopathies. Together, our findings lend further evidence to the neuroprotective effects of neurosteroids in AD pathology and indicate that these molecules represent promising tools able to increase mitochondrial bioenergetics via enhanced mitochondrial respiration, in healthy and pathological conditions, respectively. Our results may open new avenues for drug development with regard to targeting mitochondria in neurodegeneration.
(C) The aim of the second part of this thesis was to investigate more closely how mitochondrial function is endogenously regulated within the cells. Since a growing body of evidences shows that the circadian clock and metabolic homeostasis are connected in numerous ways via reciprocal regulation, we asked whether mitochondrial bioenergetics and dynamics may exhibit circadian oscillations and whether mitochondria themselves may be able to influence the circadian clock. We found that mitochondrial bioenergetics, including mitochondrial respiration and, consequently, generation of the byproducts ATP and ROS, is directly coupled to mitochondrial network which is, at least in part, regulated by clock-controlled phosphorylation of Drp1, the main factor involved in mitochondrial fission. The time-dependent reorganization of mitochondrial architecture in turn regulates the clock through circadian oscillation of mitochondrial ATP which can act as input signal through activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Our findings highlight new insights in the understanding of the reciprocal temporal crosstalk that governs the molecular interplay between the coupling of mitochondrial dynamics and metabolism and circadian rhythms.
Overall, the studies performed in the present thesis importantly helped to deepen our knowledge about the modulation of mitochondrial function in health and disease states. Our findings could have multiple implications with regard to the regulation of metabolic homeostasis in health and disease states associated with mitochondrial impairments and / or circadian disruption
