An Introduction to Riemann Surfaces

Revised version. Minor spelling and formatting errors corrected.Riemann surfaces are an important topic in both mathematics and physics. This thesis serves as an introduction to the basics of Riemann surfaces.Masteroppgåve i matematikkMAT399KMAMN-MATMAMN-LÆR

Lameness and Claw Lesions of the Norwegian Red Dairy Cattle Housed in Free Stalls in Relation to Environment, Parity and Stage of Lactation

Approximately 88% of Norwegian dairy cattle are housed in tie stalls. Free stall housing for all dairy cattle will be implemented within 20 years. This means that the majority of existing stalls will be rebuilt in the near future. Fifty-seven free stall herds of the Norwegian Red breed were randomly selected and 1547 cows and 403 heifers were trimmed by 13 claw trimmers during the late winter and spring of 2002. The claw trimmers had been taught diagnosing and recording of claw lesions. Environment, management- and feeding routines were also recorded. Fifty-three herds had concrete slatted alleys while 4 had solid concrete. Thirty-five herds had concrete as a stall base, while 17 had rubber mats, 2 had wood and 3 had deep litter straw beds. The prevalence of lameness was 1.6% in hind claws. Models for lameness and claw lesions were designed to estimate the influence of different risk factors and to account for the cluster effects within herd and claw trimmer. Detected risk factors for lameness were: parity three and above and narrow cubicles; for heel horn erosions: lactation stage around 5–7 months after calving and solid concrete alleys; for haemorrhages of the white line: lactation stage around 3–5 months after calving and solid concrete alleys; for haemorrhages of the sole: parity one, lactation stage around 5–7 months after calving and short cubicles, for white line fissures: slatted concrete alleys; for asymmetrical claws: parities two and above and for corkscrewed claws: solid concrete alleys. The prevalence of lameness in heifers was low, however 29% had one or more claw lesions. Heifers that were housed in pens or free stalls had more heel-horn erosions, haemorrhages of the sole and white-line fissures than heifers in tie stalls. As new free stalls are being built, it is important to optimise the conditions for claw health

Centre and Periphery of Nano—A Norwegian Context

This work describes the nano field in Norway as currently emerging in the dynamics between two forms of nano research activities described along a centre-periphery axis. 1) There are strategic research initiatives committed to redeem the envisioned potential of the field by means of social and material reorganisation of existing research activities. This activity is seen as central as it is one of our premises that the standard circulating nano vision implies such a work of reorganisation. The fact that nano is often taken as a paradigmatic example of the shift from Mode-1 to Mode-2 research, supports this assumption. 2) In parallel to this activity, a wide variety of research projects pursuing nano strategies are being funded. We regard such research activity as peripheral in so far as the activity is not marked by being committed to the circulating nano vision, as may often be the case. In the process of reorganising, this article argues, the research activity at the periphery provides a crucial arena for discussing and validating what is to be achieved through the work of reorganisation that takes place at the centre. Our analysis is informed by two Norwegian cases. We examine a major nano research initiative at a Norwegian university as a centre and a research project utilising nanoparticles in fish vaccines as a periphery

Tenkningens livsvilkår - Problemets genese i møtet mellom liv og tenkning hos Gilles Deleuze

Oppgaven undersøker betydningen av møtet med livet for tenkningens genese og muligheter hos Gilles Deleuze, hovedsakelig med utgangspunkt i Difference et Repetition oglesningene av Henri Bergson

Transforming Scientists’ Understanding of Science–Society Relations. Stimulating Double‑Loop Learning when Teaching RRI

The problem of developing research and innovation in accordance with society’s general needs and values has received increasing attention in research policy. In the last 7 years, the concept of “Responsible Research and Innovation” (RRI) has gained prominence in this regard, along with the resulting question of how best to integrate awareness about science–society relations into daily practices in research and higher education. In this context, post-graduate training has been seen as a promising entrance point, but tool-kit approaches more frequently have been used. In this paper, we present and analyze an experiment—in the format of a Ph.D. course for early-career researchers—deploying an alternative approach. Drawing on Argyris and Schön’s (1974) framing of reflective practice, and their distinctions between espoused theories and theories-in-use, the analyzed course endeavored to stimulate double-loop learning. Focusing on dislocatory moments, this paper analyses how the course tried to teach participants to reflect upon their own practices, values, and ontologies, and whether this provided them with the resources necessary to reflect on their theories-in-use in their daily practices.publishedVersio

Severe bradycardia and hypotension in anaesthetized pigs: Possible interaction between octreotide, xylazine, and atropine: A case series

Pigs are common animal models in diabetes research. Streptozotocin-induced destruction of pancreatic β-cells is used to induce diabetes in conscious pigs. However, in short-term non-recovery experiments, suppression of endogenous insulin secretion can be faster and more easily achieved with somatostatin analogues. We report a series of severe and unexpected episodes of severe bradycardia in eight pigs during non-recovery experiments with the original aim of investigating the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of intraperitoneal hormone delivery. The adverse events occurred four to five hours into the experiments, and we believe that they were caused by an interaction between the somatostatin analogue octreotide, and the sedative drug xylazine and that atropine delayed the time of occurrence

Moving towards a Comprehensive Medication Dispensing Service for Patients in Transition from Hospital to Primary Care

Abstract. In primary health care it is often challenging to obtain a supply of drugs when a patient is discharged to their home or to a nursing institution. Both access to updated information about the (new) medication, and the practical organization per se, present obstacles. The need for early information in the receiving units is in conflict with the hospitals` need to make decisions regarding treatment up until the point of discharge. The practical handling is affected by e.g. distance to the local pharmacy and the accessibility of certified health care workers. We aim to design and implement a medication dispensing service to ensure that the patients who are discharged to primary health care (home care services or nursing homes) are supplied with medication in the transition period, until regular supply is (re)established. In this paper we describe the complexity of the area, impacting factors to be considered and outline a stepwise approach to design a comprehensive service for enhanced patient safety

Hvor begripelige er egentlig lovtekster? En metode for å undersøke leseforståelse

Som en del av det overordna prosjektet Klart lovspråk er det gjort en leseundersøkelse av fire innbyggerretta lover for å finne ut hvordan ulike lesere tolker og bruker lovtekster. Ved å intervjue profesjonelle brukere og innbyggere som berøres av lovenes virkeområde, får man vite hvordan ulike grupper forstår innholdet. Undersøkelsen viser blant annet at mange ord og uttrykk i lovene er vanskelige å forstå, og at setnings- og tekststrukturen oppleves som tung. En slik leseundersøkelse er en metode som kan benyttes på alle typer tekster for å få tilgang til hvordan ulike lesere oppfatter dem. SummaryUnderstanding the language of the law can be challenging. As a part of the national ‘Klart lovspråk’ project, a group of researchers inquired into the participants’ general experience of legal texts, their ability to make sense of excerpts together, and their ability to reflect upon the social meaning-making processes of the interview session. A key finding from the study was that archaic words and expressions, long sentences and poor text structure were obstacles to comprehension. Another finding was that professional users rely primarily on text-based meaning-making strategies, attempting to make meaning by consulting other texts. Most citizens, however, make meaning through social strategies, e.g. by asking friends, relatives or public officials for legal advice. This method of studying reading comprehension can also be applied to all types of texts to ascertain how people perceive them

Vocabulary interventions for second language (L2) learners up to six years

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows:. The primary objective is to examine the immediate and long-term effects of second language (L2) vocabulary interventions targeting L2 learners up to six years of age on vocabulary and social-emotional well-being. The secondary objectives are to examine associations between L2 vocabulary interventions and general characteristics of L2 learners (e.g. age, L2 exposure and L1 skills), as well as specific characteristics of L2 learners who do not appear to benefit from treatment

Claw and limb disorders in 12 Norwegian beef-cow herds

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The main aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of claw and limb disorders in Norwegian beef-cow herds.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty-six herds with ≥15 cow-years were selected by computerized systematic assignment from the three most beef cattle-dense regions of Norway. The study population consisted of 12 herds with 28 heifers and 334 cows. The animals were trimmed and examined once by claw trimmers during the late winter and spring of 2003. The seven claw trimmers had been taught diagnosing and recording of claw lesions. Environment, feeding and management routines, age and breed, culling and carcass characteristics were also recorded.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Lameness was recorded in 1.1% of the animals, and only in hind claws. Pericarpal swellings were recorded in one animal and peritarsal lesions in none. In total, claw and limb disorders including lameness were recorded in 29.6% of the animals, 4.1% with front and 28.2% with hind limb disorders, respectively. Most lesions were mild. Laminitis-related claw lesions were recorded in 18.0% of the animals and infectious lesions in 16.6%. The average claw length was 84 mm in front claws and 89 mm in hind claw. Both laminitis-related and infectious claw lesions were more prevalent with increasing age. Carcasses from animals with claw and limb disorders were on average 34 kg heavier than carcasses from animals without such disorders (p = 0.02). Our results also indicate association between some management factors and claw lesions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The study shows that the prevalence of lameness was low in 12 Norwegian beef-cow herds compared to beef-cattle herds in other countries and also that there were less claw and limb disorders in these herds compared to foreign dairy-cattle herds. The prevalence of lameness and white-line fissures was approximately the same as in Norwegian dairy herds whereas less dermatitis, heel-horn erosions, haemorrhages of the sole and the white line and sole ulcers were recorded.</p