The diagnosis of early pregnancy and missed abortion in European and Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus and Rangifer tarandus platyrhyncus

Progesterone levels in peripheral plasma from a total of 38 pregnant an non-pregnant Norwegian and Svalbard reindeer (R. tarandus tarandus and R. t. platyrhyncbus, respectively), were measured 5 to 6 times between November and May, and the size of 18 corresponding fetuses determined. The serum levels of progesterone were similar in the two subspecies, and increased from 1.5 nmol/1 (non-pregnant level) to 10—30 nmol/1 in November in pregnant animals. A maximum of 40—80 nmol/1 was reached in April whereafter the levels declined as time of delivery (beginning of June) approached. Animals with «missed» abortions had progesterone levels in serum of 5—6 nmol/1 in November. The size of the fetuses in November (average 3.7 and 30.7 mm) makes delayed implantation in reindeer unlikely.Tidlig diagnostisering av drektighet og skjult abort i europeisk rein og Svalbardrein (Rangifer tarandus tarandus og Rangifer tarandus platyrhuncus).Abstract in Norwegian / Sammendrag: Progesteron er det viktigste drektighetshormon hos pattedyr, og allerede tidlig i drektighetsperioden kan man hos en rekke arter påvise en økning i konsentrasjonen av dette hormon i blodet. Det har vært diskutert om det samme var tilfelle hos rein. Hvis det var så, ville det være mulig ved hjelp av en enkelt blodprøve på høsten å bestemme om dyret var drektig eller ei, og således ha et bedre grunnlag for å velge ut simler for slakt. Formålet med de forsøkene som er beskrevet i denne artikkel var derfor å måle progesteron-verdiene i blodet hos drektige og ikke-drektige simler for å se om de førstnevnte hadde høyere nivå, og dernest å se om det var en sammenheng mellom fosterets størrelse og progesteron-nivået. Til forsøkene ble det brukt tretti V2—2V2 år gamle simler fra reineier John Nordfjells flokk på Røros, samt åtte Svalbard-rein simler. Fra de norske rein ble blodprøver og fostre samlet under slaktning d. 26. november 1979, og fra Svalbard-reinen ble det tatt blodprøver 5—6 ganger mellom januar og mai 1980. Svalbard-reinen ble ikke slaktet, og i begynnelsen av juni nedkom 3 av dem med kalv. Fostrene fra de norske rein ble veiet og målt etter fixering i formalin. Blodprøvene av samtlige dyr ble analysert for innhold av progesteron på Sentrallaboratoriet Aker Sykehus, Oslo. Det ble funnet at progesteron-verdiene økte fra 1.5 nmol/lhos ikke-drektige dyr til 10—30 nmol i november og 40—80 nmol/1 i april hos drektige dyr. Hos simler, som hadde mistet kalven (abortert) var verdiene 5—6 nmol i november. Det ble også funnet at det ikke var noen sammenheng mellom fosterets størrelse og simlas progesteron-nivå i blodet. Den gjennomsnittlige (antall fostre = 18) fosterlengde i november var 30.7 mm og fostervekt 3.7 g.Tiineyden ja sikion varhaiskuoleman varhaisesta diagnostisoimisesta eurooppalaisella porolla ja Huippuvuorten peuralla (Rangifer tarandus tarandus ja Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus).Abstract in Finnish / Yhteenveto: Progesteroni on nisakkäiden tärkein raskaushormoni ja jo heti raskauden alussa voidaan monilla lajeilla osoittaa veressä tämän hormonin konsentraation kohoaminen. On pohdittu, olisiko tilanne sama myös poron suhteen. Jos niin olisi, olisi mahdollista yksinkertaisen syksyllä otettavan verinäytteen perusteella määrittää onko eläin tiineenä vai ei ja siten hankkia paremmat perusteet teurasvaadinten valinnalle. Nyt tässä artikkelissa selostettavien kokeiden tarkoituksena oli mitata tiineiden ja mahojen vaadinten veren progesteroni-arvo, jotta voitaisiin havaita, olisiko ensiksimainitun arvo korkeampi kuin viimeksimainitun ja edelleen olisiko progesteronitason ja sikiön koon välillä mahdollisesti tietty riippuvuus. Kokeissa käytettiin 30, iältään 0,5—2,5 vuotiasta Rørosilaisen poronomistaja John Nordfjellin laumaan kuuluvaa vaadinta sekä kahdeksan Huippuvuorten peura-vaadinta. Norjalaisista poroista otettiin verinäytteet ja sikiöt, kun eläimet teurastettiin 26. marraskuuta 1979. Huippuvuorten peuroista verinäytteitä otettiin 5—6 kertaa tammikuun ja toukokuun välisenä aikana 1980. Peuroja ei teurastettu ja kesäkuun alussa kolme niistä synnytti vasan. Norjalaisten porojen sikiöt punnittiin ja mitattiin formaliinifikseerauksen jälkeen. Kaikkien eläinten verinäytteet analysoitiin progesteronin määrittämiseksi Aker-sairaalan keskuslaboratoriossa Oslossa. Poroilla, jotka eivät olleet tiineinä, havaittiin progesteronitason kohoaminen 1.5nmol/l-arvostalukemaan 10-30 nmol marraskuussa ja tiineillä arvoon 40-80 nmol/1 huhtikuussa. Vaatimilla, jotka olivat luoneet sikiönsä, arvo oli 5-6 nmol/1 marraskuussa. Kokeissa todettiin edelleen, että sikiön koon ja vaatimen veren progesteroni-tason välillä ei ollut yhteyttä. Keskimääräinen sikiön pituus (18 sikiötä) marraskuussa oli 30.7 mm ja paino 3.7 g

Wireless Communication in Process Control Loop: Requirements Analysis, Industry Practices and Experimental Evaluation

Wireless communication is already used in process automation for process monitoring. The next stage of implementation of wireless technology in industrial applications is for process control. The need for wireless networked control systems has evolved because of the necessity for extensibility, mobility, modularity, fast deployment, and reduced installation and maintenance cost. These benefits are only applicable given that the wireless network of choice can meet the strict requirements of process control applications, such as latency. In this regard, this paper is an effort towards identifying current industry practices related to implementing process control over a wireless link and evaluates the suitability of ISA100.11a network for use in process control through experiments

Den samtidsdiagnostiske sosiologiens forjettelse

I denne artikkelen kritiserer jeg den bindestrekssosiologiske rutiniseringen av den samtidsdiagnostiske sosiologiens forjettelse. Hovedargumentet er at vekst og sterk faglig spesialisering de siste 20â30 årene har satt den klassiske sosiologiens forjettelse om en empirisk testet og teoretisk formidlet samtidsdiagnose med kritiske ambisjoner under press. Med utgangspunkt i mitt bindestrekssosiologiske case, den fjerde utgaven av Det norske samfunn, lanserer jeg så fire samtidsdiagnostiske fortolkninger av dagens norske samfunn i et forsøk på å vise at den klassiske sosiologiens helhetlige ambisjon fortsatt lar seg innløse. Jeg avslutter artikkelen med å argumentere for en samtidsdiagnostisk og sosialfilosofisk revitalisering av den norske sosiologoffentligheten som en mulig vei ut av vår tids bindestrekssosiologiske fragmentering

Fraktførers erstatningsansvar for personskader etter luftfartsloven § 10-17 og forholdet til Montreal-konvensjonen art. 17. En rettsdogmatisk analyse

Oppgaven er en fremstilling av fraktførers erstatningsansvar etter luftl § 10-17, og forholdet til Montreal-konvensjonen art. 17. Rettskildesituasjonen hva gjelder regulering av fraktførers erstatningsansvar er i stor grad konvensjonsbasert, og Montrealkonvensjonens regler om fraktførers ansvar ved internasjonal luftbefordring er gjennomført i luftfartsloven kapittel X. Oppgaven vil drøfte hvilke metodiske utfordringer dette vil kunne innebære ved fortolkningen av luftl § 10-17, og da spesielt opp mot Montreal-konvensjonens formål om et ensartet regelsett ved internasjonal luftbefordring. Oppgaven tar utgangspunkt i en vurdering vilkårene luftl § 10-17 oppstiller for at fraktfører skal kunne bli erstatningsansvarlig. For det første vil vilkåret om at en «ulykke» må ha forårsaket skaden behandles. Videre vil vurderingen av hvilke skader som går inn under ansvaret vurderes, og til slutt må ulykken ha skjedd innenfor ansvarsperioden til fraktfører. Det foreligger ingen norsk praksis knyttet opp mot fraktførers erstatningansvar for personskader, og spørsmålet blir da hvordan øvrige norske rettskilder samt konvensjonsstaters rettspraksis vil kunne komme inn ved fastleggelsen av fraktførers erstatningsansvar. Avslutningsvis gjøres en vurdering av rekkevidden av fraktførers objektive ansvar, og hvilke begrensninger som kan gjøre i dette

Towards Human Motion Tracking Enhanced by Semi-Continuous Ultrasonic Time-of-Flight Measurements

Human motion analysis is a valuable tool for assessing disease progression in persons with conditions such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease. Human motion tracking is also used extensively for sporting technique and performance analysis as well as for work life ergonomics evaluations. Wearable inertial sensors (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes and/or magnetometers) are frequently employed because they are easy to mount and can be used in real life, out-of-the-lab settings, as opposed to video-based lab setups. These distributed sensors cannot, however, measure relative distances between sensors, and are also cumbersome when it comes to calibration and drift compensation. In this study, we tested an ultrasonic time-of-flight sensor for measuring relative limb-to-limb distance, and we developed a combined inertial sensor and ultrasonic time-of-flight wearable measurement system. The aim was to investigate if ultrasonic time-of-flight sensors can supplement inertial sensor-based motion tracking by providing relative distances between inertial sensor modules. We found that the ultrasonic time-of-flight measurements reflected expected walking motion patterns. The stride length estimates derived from ultrasonic time-of-flight measurements corresponded well with estimates from validated inertial sensors, indicating that the inclusion of ultrasonic time-of flight measurements could be a feasible approach for improving inertial sensor-only systems. Our prototype was able to measure both inertial and time-of-flight measurements simultaneously and continuously, but more work is necessary to merge the complementary approaches to provide more accurate and more detailed human motion tracking.publishedVersio

Luteinizing hormone and androstendione are independent predictors of ovulation after laparoscopic ovarian drilling: a retrospective cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Our objective was to investigate luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone, and androstenedione as predicitve markers for ovulation after laparoscopic ovarian drilling.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We retrospectively analyzed 100 clompihen-resistant patients with the polycystic ovary syndrome who underwent laparoscopic ovarian drilling at our department. The main outcome measure was spontaneous postoperative ovulation within three months after laparoscopic ovarian drilling. In order to predict spontaneous ovulation, we tested the following parameters by use of a univariate followed by a multivariate regression model: Preoperative serum levels of LH, FSH, testosterone, and androstenedione as well as patients' age and body mass index. In addition, we focused on pregnancy and life birth rates.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Spontaneous ovulation was documented in 71/100 patients (71.0%). In a univariate and multivariate analysis, luteinizing hormone (OR 1.58, 95%CI: 1.30-1.92) and androstenedione (OR 3.03, 95%CI: 1.20-7.67), but not follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone were independent predictors of ovulation. Using a cut-off for luteinizing hormone and androstenedione of 12.1 IU/l and 3.26 ng/ml, respectively, spontaneous ovulation was observed in 63/70 (90.0%) and 36/42 patients (85.7%) with elevated and in 8/30 (26.7%) and 35/58 (60.3%) patients with low luteinizing hormone and androstenedione levels, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negatvie predictive values for luteinizing hormone and androstendione as predictors of spontaneous ovulation after ovarian drilling were 88.7% (95%CI: 79.0-95.0%), 75.9% (95%CI: 56.5-89.7%), 90.0% (95%CI: 80.5-95.8%), and 73.3% (95%CI: 54.1-87.7%) for luteinizing hormone, and 50.7% (95%CI: 38.6-62.8%), 79.3% (95%CI: 60.3-92.0%), 85.7% (95%CI: 71.5-94.6%), and 39.7% (95%CI: 27.0-53.4%) for androstenedione, respectively. Complete one-year follow-up was available for 74/100 patients (74%). We observed a one-year pregnancy rate and a resulting life-birth rate of 61% and 51%, respectively.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Luteinizing hormone and androstenedione prior to laparoscopic ovarian drilling are independent predictors of spontaneous ovulation within three months of surgery. We suggest to preferentially performing laparoscopic ovarian drilling in patients with high luteinizing hormone and androstenedione levels.</p

Calibration of a soft secondary vertex tagger using proton-proton collisions at s=13 TeV\sqrt{s}=13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Several processes studied by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider produce low-momentum -flavored hadrons in the final state. This paper describes the calibration of a dedicated tagging algorithm that identifies -flavored hadrons outside of hadronic jets by reconstructing the soft secondary vertices originating from their decays. The calibration is based on a proton-proton collision dataset at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $140  fb^{−1}$. Scale factors used to correct the algorithm’s performance in simulated events are extracted for the -tagging efficiency and the mistag rate of the algorithm using a data sample enriched in $t\overline{t}$ events. Several orthogonal measurement regions are defined, binned as a function of the multiplicities of soft secondary vertices and jets containing a -flavored hadron in the event. The mistag rate scale factors are estimated separately for events with low and high average numbers of interactions per bunch crossing. The results, which are derived from events with low missing transverse momentum, are successfully validated in a phase space characterized by high missing transverse momentum and therefore are applicable to new physics searches carried out in either phase space regime

Performance of the ATLAS forward proton Time-of-Flight detector in Run 2

We present performance studies of the Time-of-Flight (ToF) subdetector of the ATLAS Forward Proton (AFP) detector at the LHC. Efficiencies and resolutions are measured using high-statistics data samples collected at low and moderate pile-up in 2017, the first year when the detectors were installed on both sides of the interaction region. While low efficiencies are observed, of the order of a few percent, the resolutions of the two ToF detectors measured individually are 21 ps and 28 ps, yielding an expected resolution of the longitudinal position of the interaction, z vtx, in the central ATLAS detector of 5.3 ± 0.6 mm. This is in agreement with the observed width of the distribution of the difference between z vtx, measured independently by the central ATLAS tracker and by the ToF detector, of 6.0 ± 2.0 mm