Ny militærordning : Implementeringsprosess og organisasjonskultur

Det overordnede temaet for denne oppgaven er hvordan omstilling, organisasjonsutvikling og strukturendringer påvirker organisasjonskulturen i en organisasjon. Helt konkret ser denne studien på hvordan implementeringen av Ordning for militært tilsatte (OMT), hvor de militære arbeidstakerne blir fordelt på to profesjonssøyler, kan påvirke organisasjonskulturen i Forsvaret og Sjøforsvaret. Dette er gjort ved å sette teorier fra forskningsfeltene organisasjonsutvikling og organisasjonskultur opp mot hvordan implementeringsprosessen er blitt, og blir, gjennomført i henholdsvis Forsvaret og Sjøforsvaret. Studien kan således betraktes som en kongruensanalyse som ser på hvorvidt de tiltakene som er valgt, leder mot en predefinert organisasjonskultur. Studien innehar noen kvantitative elementer fra tidligere undersøkelser, men er kvalitativ tung i form av at det er gjennomført dokumentanalyse og gruppeintervjuer med representanter både fra arbeidsgiver- og arbeidstakersiden. Funnene indikerer at prosessen ikke har fulgt studiens valgte modell for organisasjonsutvikling fullt ut – det vil si at det på enkelte områder fremdeles gjenstår noe arbeid for å få til en vellykket implementering. Gitt at OMT skal være innført innen utgangen av 2020, synes det allikevel at det vil være oppnåelig å få OMT implementert innenfor tidsrammen. Innføringen av OMT vil dessuten kunne føre til en endret organisasjonskultur i Forsvaret og Sjøforsvaret. Mine funn tilsier at de fleste tiltakene som er gjennomført i prosessen påvirker organisasjonskulturen i riktig retning – altså mot den predefinerte, ønskede kulturen. Det er allikevel et mulighetsrom for forbedringer som studien viser – spesielt innenfor områder som studiens valgte teorimodell betegner som ritualer og rutiner, kontrollsystemer samt maktstrukturer. Studien er å betrakte som et case-studie, og funnene er således ikke direkte overførbare til andre driftsenheter (DIF) i Forsvaret, men oppgaven kan bidra til å danne et utgangspunkt for tilsvarende undersøkelser i andre DIF'er og underordnede avdelinger. Summary The overall theme of this thesis is how restructuring of an organisastion, organisational development and structural changes may affect the organisational culture within an organisation. This thesis specifically examines how the implementation of the Regime of military employees (RME), where the military employees being categorised according to their profession, may affect the organisational culture of the Norwegian Armed Forces and the Royal Norwegian Navy. This has been done using theories from the research fields of organisational development and organisational culture, and compared them with how the implementation process has been, and will be, carried out respectively in the Norwegian Armed Forces and the Royal Norwegian Navy. The thesis can thus be considered as an analysis of congruence, which looks at whether the measures selected, are leading toward a predefined organizational culture. The thesis holds some quantitative elements from previous surveys, but it is rather qualitative in terms of being based on document analysis and group-interviews with representatives from both employers and employees. The findings indicate that the process of implementation has not followed the thesis' chosen model for organisational development to the fullest. This means that, in certain areas, there remains some work to be done to achieve a successful implementation of RME. However, given the goal that RME is to be fully implemented by the end of 2020, it seems achievable to implement RME within time. The introduction of RME may also lead to a changed organisational culture in the Norwegian Armed Forces and the Royal Norwegian Navy. My findings suggest that most measures utilised in the process, direct the organisational culture in the right direction; it is heading towards the predefined, desired culture. Nevertheless, as the study shows, there is room for improvement – especially in areas described by the theoretical model selected as rituals and routines, control systems and power structures. The study is to be considered as a case study, and the findings are therefore not directly transferable to other units in the Norwegian Armed Forces, but the thesis may serve as a basis to help other units to form similar studies in their own organisation

The Syncline Model -- Analyzing the Impact of Time Synchronization in Sensor Fusion

The accuracy of sensor fusion algorithms are limited by either the intrinsic sensor noise, or by the quality of time synchronization of the sensors. While the intrinsic sensor noise only depends on the respective sensors, the error induced by quality of, or lack of, synchronization depends on the dynamics of the vehicles and robotic system and the magnitude of time synchronization errors. To meet their sensor fusion requirements, system designers must consider both which sensor to use and also how to synchronize them. This paper presents the Syncline model, a simple visual model of how time synchronization affects the accuracy of sensor fusion for different mobile robot platform. The model can serve as a simple tool to determine which synchronization mechanisms should be used.Comment: To be published in IEEE CCTA2022 Proceeding

Surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis: a nationwide registry-based study with patient-reported outcomes

Purpose To compare patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) following surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or ankylosing spondylitis (AS) versus those without rheumatic diseases. Methods Data were obtained from the Norwegian Registry for Spine Surgery. The primary outcome was change in the Neck Disability Index (NDI) at 1 year. Secondary endpoints included the European Myelopathy Score (EMS), quality of life (EuroQoL-5D [EQ-5D]), numeric rating scales (NRS) for headache, neck pain, and arm pain, and complications. Results Among 905 participants operated between 2012 and 2018, 35 had RA or AS. There were signifcant improvements in all PROMs at 1 year and no statistically signifcant diference between the cohorts in mean change in NDI (−0.64, 95% CI−8.1 to 6.8, P=.372), EQ-5D (0.10, 95% CI−0.04 to 0.24, P=.168), NRS neck pain (−0.8, 95% CI−2.0 to 0.4, P=.210), NRS arm pain (−0.6, 95% CI−1.9 to 0.7, P=.351), and NRS headache (−0.5, 95% CI−1.7 to 0.8, P=.460). Discussion and conclusion Our study adds to the limited available evidence that surgical treatment cannot only arrest further progression of myelopathy but also improve functional status, neurological outcomes, and quality of life in patients with rheumatic disease

Risk assessment of Aquaterra® oil for its intended use as ingredient in fish feed. Scientific Opinion of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for food an Environment (VKM) has assessed an application for authorisation of refined oilseed rape oil (Aquaterra®) derived from genetically modified oilseed rape line NS-B50027-4 for exclusive use as an ingredient in fish feed in Norway. NS-B50027-4 is also named DHA-canola. This report uses the term oilseed rape. NS-B50027-4 produces omega-3 long-chain (≥C20) polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 LC-PUFAs) in its seeds, with a high level of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and a small amount of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA). Aquaterra® also contains a significant level of alpha-Linolenic acid (ALA). Whereas ALA can be derived from plants, the primary producers of EPA and DHA are mainly marine microalgae. EPA and DHA are concentrated in the food chain to fish in the oceans and are often referred to as marine omega-3 fatty acids. NS-B50027-4 was developed as an alternative land-based source of marine fatty acids, mainly DHA. NS-B50027-4 was genetically modified to express seven transgenes derived from yeasts and marine microalgae that encode the enzymes necessary for the biosynthesis of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. In addition, an eighth gene, pat, was inserted as a marker for selection purposes during development. The pat gene encodes the enzyme phosphinothricin N-acetyltransferase (PAT) conferring tolerance to glufosinate-ammonium herbicides. Equally to conventional refined oilseed rape oils any residues levels of proteins, including the introduced enzymes, will be negligible in the Aquaterra® oil. The risk assessment of Aquaterra® was conducted in accordance with the guidance for risk assessment of derived food and feed from genetically modified plants as described by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA, 2011a). The risk assessment is based primarily on scientific documentation provided in the application EFSA-GMO-NL-2019-160, which seeks approval for NS-B50027-4 for all applicable food and feed uses in the European Union (EU). VKM concludes that the provided scientific documentation fulfills the criteria of the EFSA guidance and is adequate for risk assessment. VKM concludes that the molecular characterisation, comparative, nutritional, toxicological and allergenicity assessments of NS-B50027-4 do not indicate increased risks to animal or human health compared to its conventional counterpart (comparator) or commercial reference varieties. Based on this together with specific analyses of the seed oil fraction and studies, e.g., in fish, VKM therefore concludes that the refined oil Aquaterra®, is equal to conventional oils from oilseed rape except for the altered composition in fatty acids. VKM concludes there is no increased health risk to fish fed Aquaterra® in feed compared to conventional feeds with oils from other sources, nor is there an indication of increased risk to the environment. Since Aquaterra® is equal to conventional oils from oilseed rape except for the marine omega-3 fatty acids already present in fish feeds, VKM concludes there is no greater need for health or environmental monitoring of feeds containing Aquaterra® than conventional feeds.Risk assessment of Aquaterra® oil for its intended use as ingredient in fish feed. Scientific Opinion of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and EnvironmentpublishedVersionpublishedVersio

Boganmeldelser

Book review

Change in Composition of the Anopheles Gambiae Complex and its Possible Implications for the Transmission of Malaria and Lymphatic Filariasis in North-Eastern Tanzania.

A dramatic decline in the incidence of malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum infection in coastal East Africa has recently been reported to be paralleled (or even preceded) by an equally dramatic decline in malaria vector density, despite absence of organized vector control. As part of investigations into possible causes for the change in vector population density, the present study analysed the Anopheles gambiae s.l. sibling species composition in north-eastern Tanzania. The study was in two parts. The first compared current species complex composition in freshly caught An. gambiae s.l. complex from three villages to the composition reported from previous studies carried out 2-4 decades ago in the same villages. The second took advantage of a sample of archived dried An. gambiae s.l. complex specimens collected regularly from a fourth study village since 2005. Both fresh and archived dried specimens were identified to sibling species of the An. gambiae s.l. complex by PCR. The same specimens were moreover examined for Plasmodium falciparum and Wuchereria bancrofti infection by PCR. As in earlier studies, An. gambiae s.s., Anopheles merus and Anopheles arabiensis were identified as sibling species found in the area. However, both study parts indicated a marked change in sibling species composition over time. From being by far the most abundant in the past An. gambiae s.s. was now the most rare, whereas An. arabiensis had changed from being the most rare to the most common. P. falciparum infection was rarely detected in the examined specimens (and only in An. arabiensis) whereas W. bancrofti infection was prevalent and detected in all three sibling species. The study indicates that a major shift in An. gambiae s.l. sibling species composition has taken place in the study area in recent years. Combined with the earlier reported decline in overall malaria vector density, the study suggests that this decline has been most marked for An. gambiae s.s., and least for An. arabiensis, leading to current predominance of the latter. Due to differences in biology and vectorial capacity of the An. gambiae s.l. complex the change in sibling species composition will have important implications for the epidemiology and control of malaria and lymphatic filariasis in the study area

Editorial Board

Source at http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1345-8 Background: The duration of untreated psychosis is determined by both patient and service related factors. Few studies have considered the geographical accessibility of services in relation to treatment delay in early psychosis. To address this, we investigated whether treatment delay is co-determined by straight-line distance to hospital based specialist services in a mainly rural mental health context. Methods: A naturalistic cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of recent onset psychosis patients in northern Norway (n = 62). Data on patient and service related determinants were analysed. Results: Half of the cohort had a treatment delay longer than 4.5 months. In a binary logistic regression model, straight-line distance was found to make an independent contribution to delay in which we controlled for other known risk factors. Conclusions: The determinants of treatment delay are complex. This study adds to previous studies on treatment delay by showing that the spatial location of services also makes an independent contribution. In addition, it may be that insidious onset is a more important factor in treatment delay in remote areas, as the logistical implications of specialist referral are much greater than for urban dwellers. The threshold for making a diagnosis in a remote location may therefore be higher. Strategies to reduce the duration of untreated psychosis in rural areas would benefit from improving appropriate referral by crisis services, and the detection of insidious onset of psychosis in community based specialist services

Agglomeration effects : studying agglomeration effects from Norwegian hydroelectricity plants

Supervisor: Aline BuetikoferThis thesis aims to answer the research question "To what extent did the shocks to eco- nomic activity and population following openings of Norwegian hydroelectricity plants in the early 20th century lead to long run agglomeration effects?". The question is answered using data on population density and taxable income in 67 Norwegian municipalities in the period between 1876 and 2013. We utilize the fact that hydroelectricity plants opened before transportation of electricity over large distances was possible provide temporary shocks to population density and economic activity. Using a combination of the synthetic control method and the rolling out approach we estimate both short- and long run effects following the openings of hydroelectricity plants. The main conclusion is that opening hydroelectricity plants lead to significant short run effects in several of the municipalities in the data-set, but that the evidence for long run agglomeration effects is weak.nhhma