Glass Thomsen : en vurdering av merkenavnets verdi og image

I denne oppgaven har vi, på oppdrag fra Johan Thomsen AS, gjennomført en markedsundersøkelse for Glass Thomsen, som er en kjede av glass og gavebutikker i bergensområdet. Bakgrunn for dette oppdraget var at ledelsen følte butikkene var lite synlig i markedet og at de begynte å miste grep om kundene. Gjennom en assosiasjonsstudie har vi søkt å identifisere image og merkenavnets verdi for Glass Thomsen. Dette ble undersøkt ved å se på Glass Thomsen opp mot konkurrentene Tilbords og Christiania GlasMagasin. Vi presenterer teori, metode og resultater for denne studien og ser på implikasjoner for videre posisjonering av Glass Thomsen og deres muligheter i fremtiden

Prototyping to Leverage Learning in Product Manufacturing Environments

AbstractRooted in the automotive industry, this article discusses the topic of leveraging tacit knowledge through prototyping. After first providing an overview on learning and knowledge, the Socialization, Externalization, Combination and Internalization (SECI) model is discussed in detail, with a clear distinction between tacit and explicit knowledge. Based on this model, we propose a framework for using said reflective and affirmative prototyping in an external vs. internal learning/knowledge capturing and transfer setting. Contextual examples from select automotive manufacturing R&D projects are given to demonstrate the importance and potential in applying more effective strategies for knowledge transformation in engineering design

Investigation of severe lunar environmental conditions on the physical and mechanical properties of lunar regolith geopolymers

3D-printing of geopolymers produced from lunar regolith is an interesting option for space in situ habitats. In this study, the influence of the severe lunar environmental conditions such as extreme temperature variations and vacuum on the physical and mechanical properties of lunar regolith geopolymers were investigated. Additionally, the effect of different amounts of urea as a geopolymer superplasticizer was evaluated. Utilization of urea was found to reduce the water needed to reach the same workability by up to 32%. Extrudability tests showed that mixtures containing 3 wt.% urea could be continuously extruded, and built up into a five layer structure without any noticeable deformation. Addition of urea decreased the compressive strength after exposure to the temperature variations of one lunar day–and–night cycle during curing. However, urea can prevent concrete degradation after the lunar cycle by increasing the amounts of air voids. X-ray tomography showed that the porosity became higher when urea was added to the samples, and increased markedly when the samples were cured in vacuum.publishedVersio

Scenarioarbeid reduserte usikkerhet: Bruk av økonomisk informasjon i «Ny by – Ny flyplass»

Masteroppgave i økonomistyring (MSc) 201

Imaging of treatment response to the combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel in human ovarian cancer xenograft tumors in mice using FDG and FLT PET

A combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel is often used as first line chemotherapy for treatment of ovarian cancer. Therefore the use of imaging biomarkers early after initiation of treatment to determine treatment sensitivity would be valuable in order to identify responders from non-responders. In this study we describe the non-invasive PET imaging of glucose uptake and cell proliferation using 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) and 3'-deoxy-3'-[(18)F]fluorothymidine (FLT) for early assessment of treatment response in a pre-clinical mouse model of human ovarian cancer treated with carboplatin and paclitaxel.In vivo uptake of FLT and FDG in human ovarian cancer xenografts in mice (A2780) was determined before treatment with carboplatin and paclitaxel (CaP) and repeated day 1, 4 and 8 after treatment start. Tracer uptake was quantified using small animal PET/CT. Tracer uptake was compared with gene expression of Ki67, TK1, GLUT1, HK1 and HK2.Tumors in the CaP group was significantly smaller than in the control group (p=0.03) on day 8. On day 4 FDG SUVmax ratio was significantly lower in the CaP group compared to the control group (105 ± 4% vs 138 ± 9%; p=0.002) and on day 8 the FDG SUVmax ratio was lower in the CaP compared to the control group (125 ± 13% vs 167 ± 13%; p=0.05). On day 1 the uptake of FLT SUVmax ratio was 89 ± 9% in the CaP group and 109 ± 6% in the control group; however the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.08).Our data suggest that both FDG and FLT PET may be used for the assessment of anti-tumor effects of a combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel in the treatment of ovarian cancer. FLT provides an early and transient signal and FDG a later and more prolonged response. This underscores the importance of optimal timing between treatment and FLT or FDG imaging since treatment response may otherwise be overlooked

Early Detection of Response to Experimental Chemotherapeutic Top216 with [18F]FLT and [18F]FDG PET in Human Ovary Cancer Xenografts in Mice

BACKGROUND: 3'-Deoxy-3'-[(18)F]fluorothymidine ((18)F-FLT) is a tracer used to assess cell proliferation in vivo. The aim of the study was to use (18)F-FLT positron emission tomography (PET) to study treatment responses to a new anti-cancer compound. To do so, we studied early anti-proliferative effects of the experimental chemotherapy Top216 non-invasively by PET. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In vivo uptake of (18)F-FLT in human ovary cancer xenografts in mice (A2780) was studied at various time points after Top216 treatment (50 mg/kg i.v. at 0 and 48 hours) was initiated. Baseline (18)F-FLT scans were made before either Top216 (n = 7-10) or vehicle (n = 5-7) was injected and repeated after 2 and 6 hours and 1 and 5 days of treatment. A parallel study was made with 2'-deoxy-2'-[(18)F]fluoro-D-glucose ((18)F-FDG) (n = 8). Tracer uptake was quantified using small animal PET/CT. Imaging results were validated by tumor volume changes and gene-expression of Ki67 and TK1. Top216 (50 mg/kg 0 and 48 hours) inhibited the growth of the A2780 tumor compared to the control group (P<0.001). (18)F-FLT uptake decreased significantly at 2 hours (-52%; P<0.001), 6 hours (-49%; P = 0.002) and Day 1 (-47%; P<0.001) after Top216 treatment. At Day 5 (18)F-FLT uptake was comparable to uptake in the control group. Uptake of (18)F-FLT was unchanged in the control group during the experiment. In the treatment group, uptake of (18)F-FDG was significantly decreased at 6 hours (-21%; P = 0.003), Day 1 (-29%; P<0.001) and Day 5 (-19%; P = 0.05) compared to baseline. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: One injection with Top216 initiated a fast and significant decrease in cell-proliferation assessable by (18)F-FLT after 2 hours. The early reductions in tumor cell proliferation preceded changes in tumor size. Our data indicate that (18)F-FLT PET is promising for the early non-invasive assessment of chemotherapy effects in both drug development and for tailoring therapy in patients

Validation of three-dimensional hydrodynamic models of the Gulf of Finland

A model-intercomparison study was conducted, the first of its kind for the Baltic Sea, whose aim was to systematically simulate the basic three-dimensional hydrographic properties of a realistic, complex basin. Simulations of the hydrographic features of the Gulf of Finland for the summer–autumn of 1996 by six three-dimensional hydrodynamic models were compared. Validation was undertaken using more than 300 vertical hydrographic profiles of salinity and temperature. The analysis of model performance, including averaging of the ensemble results, was undertaken with a view to assessing the potential suitability of the models in reproducing the physics of the Baltic Sea accurately enough to serve as a basis for accurate simulations of biogeochemistry once ecosystem models are incorporated. The performance of the models was generally satisfactory. Nevertheless, all the models had some difficulties in correctly simulating vertical profiles of temperature and salinity, and hence mixed layer dynamics, particularly in the eastern Gulf of Finland. Results emphasized the need for high resolution in both vertical and horizontal directions in order to resolve the complex dynamics and bathymetry of the Baltic Sea. Future work needs to consider the choice of mixing and advection schemes, moving to higher resolution, high-frequency forcing, and the accurate representation of river discharges and boundary conditions

Minimal reporting guideline for research involving eye tracking (2023 edition)

A guideline is proposed that comprises the minimum items to be reported in research studies involving an eye tracker and human or non-human primate participant(s). This guideline was developed over a 3-year period using a consensus-based process via an open invitation to the international eye tracking community. This guideline will be reviewed at maximum intervals of 4 years