FDI og korrupsjon : hvilken effekt har korrupsjon på inngående FDI-strømmer til utviklingsland?

Sammenhengen mellom korrupsjon og FDI har vært mye omdiskutert i litteraturen. Denne artikkelen tar i bruk paneldata for årene 1996–2010 for å analysere effekten korrupsjon har på FDI i nyere tid for 84 utviklingsland. Vi finner at korrupsjon utøver en sterk, negativ effekt på inngående FDI-strømmer. Artikkelen undersøker også om lavkorrupsjonsland, gitt ved Norge og Sverige, påvirkes annerledes av korrupsjon i mottakerlandet ved investeringsbeslutninger. Vi finner ingen signifikant effekt av korrupsjon på de skandinaviske FDI-strømmene eller beholdningene

Gut microbiota composition during hospitalization is associated with 60-day mortality after severe COVID-19

Background - Gut microbiota alterations have been reported in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, with reduced alpha diversity and altered microbiota composition related to respiratory failure. However, data regarding gut microbiota and mortality are scarce. Methods - Rectal swabs for gut microbiota analyses were collected within 48 h after hospital admission (baseline; n = 123) and three-month post-admission (n = 50) in a subset of patients included in the Norwegian SARS-CoV2 cohort study. Samples were analysed by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. Gut microbiota diversity and composition at baseline were assessed in relation to need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission during hospitalization. The primary objective was to investigate whether the ICU-related gut microbiota was associated with 60-day mortality. Results - Gut microbiota diversity (Shannon index) at baseline was lower in COVID-19 patients requiring ICU admission during hospitalization than in those managed in general wards. A dysbiosis index representing a balance of enriched and reduced taxa in ICU compared with ward patients, including decreased abundance of butyrate-producing microbes and enrichment of a partly oral bacterial flora, was associated with need of ICU admission independent of antibiotic use, dexamethasone use, chronic pulmonary disease, PO2/FiO2 ratio, C-reactive protein, neutrophil counts or creatinine levels (adjusted p  Conclusions - Although our data should be regarded as exploratory due to low number of clinical end points, they suggest that gut microbiota alterations during hospitalization could be related to poor prognosis after severe COVID-19. Larger studies of gut involvement during COVID-19 in relation to long-term clinical outcome are warranted

HYPSO-1 CubeSat: First Images and In-Orbit Characterization

The HYPSO-1 satellite, a 6U CubeSat carrying a hyperspectral imager, was launched on 13 January 2022, with the Goal of imaging ocean color in support of marine research. This article describes the development and current status of the mission and payload operations, including examples of agile planning, captures with low revisit time and time series acquired during a campaign. The in-orbit performance of the hyperspectral instrument is also characterized. The usable spectral range of the instrument is in the range of 430 nm to 800 nm over 120 bands after binning during nominal captures. The spatial resolvability is found empirically to be below 2.2 pixels in terms of Full-Width at Half-Maximum (FWHM) at 565 nm. This measure corresponds to an inherent ground resolvable resolution of 142 m across-track for close to nadir capture. In the across-track direction, there are 1216 pixels available, which gives a swath width of 70 km. However, the 684 center pixels are used for nominal captures. With the nominal pixels used in the across-track direction, the nadir swath-width is 40 km. The spectral resolution in terms of FWHM is estimated to be close to 5 nm at the center wavelength of 600 nm, and the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) is evaluated to be greater than 300 at 450 nm to 500 nm for Top-of-Atmosphere (ToA) signals. Examples of images from the first months of operations are also shown.publishedVersio

Circulating markers of extracellular matrix remodelling in severe COVID-19 patients

Background Abnormal remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) has generally been linked to pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis and may also play a role in the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19. To further elucidate the role of ECM remodelling and excessive fibrogenesis in severe COVID-19, we examined circulating levels of mediators involved in various aspects of these processes in COVID-19 patients. Methods Serial blood samples were obtained from two cohorts of hospitalised COVID-19 patients (n = 414). Circulating levels of ECM remodelling mediators were quantified by enzyme immunoassays in samples collected during hospitalisation and at 3-month follow-up. Samples were related to disease severity (respiratory failure and/or treatment at the intensive care unit), 60-day total mortality and pulmonary pathology after 3-months. We also evaluated the direct effect of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 on the release of the different ECM mediators in relevant cell lines. Results Several of the measured markers were associated with adverse outcomes, notably osteopontin (OPN), S100 calcium-binding protein A12 and YKL-40 were associated with disease severity and mortality. High levels of ECM mediators during hospitalisation were associated with computed tomography thorax pathology after 3-months. Some markers (i.e. growth differential factor 15, galectin 3 and matrix metalloproteinase 9) were released from various relevant cell lines (i.e. macrophages and lung cell lines) in vitro after exposure to inactivated SARS-CoV-2 suggesting a direct link between these mediators and the causal agent of COVID-19. Conclusion Our findings highlight changes to ECM remodelling and particularly a possible role of OPN, S100A12 and YKL-40 in the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19

FDI og korrupsjon : hvilken effekt har korrupsjon på inngående FDI-strømmer til utviklingsland?

Sammenhengen mellom korrupsjon og FDI har vært mye omdiskutert i litteraturen. Denne artikkelen tar i bruk paneldata for årene 1996–2010 for å analysere effekten korrupsjon har på FDI i nyere tid for 84 utviklingsland. Vi finner at korrupsjon utøver en sterk, negativ effekt på inngående FDI-strømmer. Artikkelen undersøker også om lavkorrupsjonsland, gitt ved Norge og Sverige, påvirkes annerledes av korrupsjon i mottakerlandet ved investeringsbeslutninger. Vi finner ingen signifikant effekt av korrupsjon på de skandinaviske FDI-strømmene eller beholdningene

Efficiently Weaponizing Vulnerabilities and Automating Vulnerability Hunting

Cybersikkerhet har aldri vært viktigere, spesielt med hensyn til den økende avhengigheten av informasjonsteknologi. Cybersikkerhetsindustrien opplever en rask vekst i mengden rapporterte sårbarheter; en trend som forventes å fortsette. For å effektivt kunne håndtere den økende mengden sårbarheter, er det nødvendig å benytte et rammeverk, eller en metodikk, for å evaluere og demonstrere risiko. Det finnes få studier innen fagfeltet som definerer en metodikk for å demonstrere risikoen av sårbarheter. I denne oppgaven definerer vi en metodikk som består av elleve steg. Disse stegene beskriver prosessen for å gå fra en sårbarhet, til å automatisk skanne etter denne sårbarheten periodisk. Dette ble oppnådd ved å definere en generell metodikk, teste den i praksis, og deretter sammenligne hvordan våre individuelle tilnærminger var forskjellige. Vi lagde deretter en raffinert metodikk basert på disse funnene. Med denne metodikken er det mulig for offensive sikkerhetsteam å iverksette tiltak og demonstrere potensiell risiko på en mer effektiv og strukturert måte

High circulating levels of the homeostatic chemokines CCL19 and CCL21 predict mortality and disease severity in Covid-19

Background Immune dysregulation is a major factor in the development of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The homeostatic chemokines CCL19 and CCL21 have been implicated as mediators of tissue inflammation, but data on their regulation in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is limited. We thus investigated the levels of these chemokines in COVID-19 patients. Methods Serial blood samples were obtained from patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (n = 414). Circulating CCL19 and CCL21 levels during hospitalization and 3-month follow-up were analyzed. In vitro assays and analysis of RNAseq data from public repositories were performed to further explore possible regulatory mechanisms. Results A consistent increase in circulating levels of CCL19 and CCL21 was observed, with high levels correlating with disease severity measures, including respiratory failure, need for intensive care, and 60-day all-cause mortality. High levels of CCL21 at admission were associated with persisting impairment of pulmonary function at the 3-month follow-up. Conclusions Our findings highlight CCL19 and CCL21 as markers of immune dysregulation in COVID-19. This may reflect aberrant regulation triggered by tissue inflammation, as observed in other chronic inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. Determination of the source and regulation of these chemokines and their effects on lung tissue is warranted to further clarify their role in COVID-19

High circulating levels of the homeostatic chemokines CCL19 and CCL21 predict mortality and disease severity in Covid-19

Abstract Background Immune dysregulation is a major factor in the development of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The homeostatic chemokines CCL19 and CCL21 have been implicated as mediators of tissue inflammation, but data on their regulation in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is limited. We thus investigated the levels of these chemokines in COVID-19 patients. Methods Serial blood samples were obtained from patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (n = 414). Circulating CCL19 and CCL21 levels during hospitalization and 3-month follow-up were analyzed. In vitro assays and analysis of RNAseq data from public repositories were performed to further explore possible regulatory mechanisms. Results A consistent increase in circulating levels of CCL19 and CCL21 was observed, with high levels correlating with disease severity measures, including respiratory failure, need for intensive care, and 60-day all-cause mortality. High levels of CCL21 at admission were associated with persisting impairment of pulmonary function at the 3-month follow-up. Conclusions Our findings highlight CCL19 and CCL21 as markers of immune dysregulation in COVID-19. This may reflect aberrant regulation triggered by tissue inflammation, as observed in other chronic inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. Determination of the source and regulation of these chemokines and their effects on lung tissue is warranted to further clarify their role in COVID-19. Clinical Trials Registration NCT04321616 and NCT04381819

Persistent T-cell exhaustion in relation to prolonged pulmonary pathology and death after severe COVID-19: Results from two Norwegian cohort studies

Background: T-cell activation is associated with an adverse outcome in COVID-19, but whether T-cell activation and exhaustion relate to persistent respiratory dysfunction and death is unknown. Objectives: To investigate whether T-cell activation and exhaustion persist and are associated with prolonged respiratory dysfunction and death after hospitalization for COVID-19. Methods: Plasma and serum from two Norwegian cohorts of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 (n = 414) were analyzed for soluble (s) markers of T-cell activation (sCD25) and exhaustion (sTim-3) during hospitalization and follow-up. Results: Both markers were strongly associated with acute respiratory failure, but only sTim-3 was independently associated with 60-day mortality. Levels of sTim-3 remained elevated 3 and 12 months after hospitalization and were associated with pulmonary radiological pathology after 3 months. Conclusion: Our findings suggest prolonged T-cell exhaustion is an important immunological sequela, potentially related to long-term outcomes after severe COVID-19

Persistent T-cell exhaustion in relation to prolonged pulmonary pathology and death after severe COVID-19: Results from two Norwegian cohort studies

Background - T-cell activation is associated with an adverse outcome in COVID-19, but whether T-cell activation and exhaustion relate to persistent respiratory dysfunction and death is unknown. Objectives - To investigate whether T-cell activation and exhaustion persist and are associated with prolonged respiratory dysfunction and death after hospitalization for COVID-19. Methods - Plasma and serum from two Norwegian cohorts of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 (n = 414) were analyzed for soluble (s) markers of T-cell activation (sCD25) and exhaustion (sTim-3) during hospitalization and follow-up. Results - Both markers were strongly associated with acute respiratory failure, but only sTim-3 was independently associated with 60-day mortality. Levels of sTim-3 remained elevated 3 and 12 months after hospitalization and were associated with pulmonary radiological pathology after 3 months. Conclusion - Our findings suggest prolonged T-cell exhaustion is an important immunological sequela, potentially related to long-term outcomes after severe COVID-19