Exploration and evaluation of offshore repurposing concepts

Økende etterspørsel etter ressurser, en global miljøkrise og politiske uroligheter krever nye måter å drive forretning på, og løsningen kan være å skape et fungerende forhold mellom økonomisk utvikling og økologiske systemer ved å innføre sirkulære strategier. Ettersom et økende antall offshore ressurser går inn i de senere livssyklusstadiene, kan norsk olje- og gassindustri utforske alternativer for å spare nedstengningskostnader for installasjoner og redusere karbonfotavtrykk. En mulig, ny ide som er verdt å studere, er alternativ bruk av strukturer og topsides for nye næringer som et kostnadseffektivt alternativ til den tradisjonelle dekommisjonerings- og resirkuleringsmetoden. Derfor er hensikten med denne oppgaven å utforske og evaluere mulige, norske konsept for alternativ bruk av offshore ressurser som i dag brukes innen olje- og gassindustrien. Det første målet er å utforske gjenbrukskonsepter og identifisere beslutningskriterier ved tematisk analyse av en litteraturgjennomgang og kvalitativ forskning. Det andre målet er å evaluere hvert gjenbrukskonsept ved å konstruere en beslutningsmatrise basert på identifiserte beslutningskriterier. Flere konsepter har blitt utforsket og evaluert, som for eksempel offshore oppdrettsanlegg, transformatorstasjoner, hydrogenproduksjon, hoteller, CCS, rigger-til-skjær. De mest fremtredende, identifiserte beslutningskriteriene var type platform, bevegelighet, tilgjengelig teknologi og ekspertise, markedspotensial og miljørisiko. En beslutningsmatrise med tekniske, økonomiske og miljømessige beslutningskriterier bekrefter at oppdrettsanlegg og transformatorstasjoner for offshore vindparker var foretrukne gjenbrukskonsepter. Denne oppgavens resultater kan veilede videre introduksjon og utvikling av sirkulære strategier i en tradisjonell industri, og potensielt gi veiledning i å finne innovative løsninger på aktuelle utfordringer.Increasing demand for resources, a global environmental crisis and political disruption demand new ways of doing business, and the solution may be to create a workable relationship between economic development and ecological systems by the introduction of circular strategies. As a growing number of offshore assets are entering the later lifecycle stages, the Norwegian oil and gas industry may explore options for saving decommissioning costs of installations and reducing carbon footprints. A viable, unexplored option worth studying is the repurposing of structures and topsides for new industries as a cost-efficient alternative to the traditional decommissioning and recycling approach. Thus, the purpose of this thesis is to explore and evaluate Norwegian repurposing concepts for offshore assets currently within the oil and gas industry. The first objective is to explore repurposing concepts and extract decision criteria by thematic analysis of a literature review and qualitative research. The second objective is to evaluate each repurposing concept by constructing a decision-making matrix based on identified decision criteria. Several concepts have been explored and evaluated, such as offshore fish farms, substations, hydrogen production, hotels, CCS, rigs-to-reefs, and more. The most prominent decision criteria during this study were asset type, movability, available technology and expertise, market potential and environmental risk. A decision matrix with technical, economic, and environmental decision criteria confirms that fish farms and substations for offshore wind parks were preferred repurposing concepts. This thesis results may guide further introduction and development of circular strategies in a traditional industry, and potentially provide guidance in finding innovative solutions to current challenges

Ultrasound-enhanced Fibrinolysis Pro-fibrinolytic and Non-beneficial Effects Of Ultrasound Exposure

The aim of this study was to further clarify the pro-fibrinolytic effects, and to explore the possible non-beneficial effects in ischemic organs, during exposure to pulsed ultrasound. This was accomplished by studies of the effects of different intensities of pulsed ultrasound exposure on the fibrinolytic properties of streptokinase and reteplase. Measurements were performed both following pre-exposure of the drugs and clots to pulsed ultrasound, and following concomitant exposure of clots and drugs. In the exploration of pro-fibrinolytic effects during ultrasound exposure it was shown that exposure of the streptokinase molecule to low-intensity, pulsed high frequency ultrasound modulates its fibrinolytic properties. The effects were present following ultrasound exposure of streptokinase solution and during ultrasound exposure of clots and streptokinase solution concomitantly. Depending on its intensity, modulation was observed as both increased and decreased fibrinolytic effects. Pre-exposure of reteplase solution to low-intensity ultrasound induced changes in the function of the reteplase molecule associated with enhanced fibrinolytic effects. Enhancement effects were also seen when the clots were pre-exposed to high intensities of ultrasound before or concomitantly with exposure to reteplase solution, suggesting that two different intensity-dependent mechanisms are involved in ultrasound-enhanced reteplase fibrinolysis. No decreased fibrinolytic effect of reteplase depending on ultrasound exposure could be seen. In an initial study of the fibrinolytic effects induced by a combination of Sonazoid® microbubbles and ultrasound, the effects of various ultrasound parameters on the microbubble destruction-rate was studied. It was shown that, at the same intensity level, the destruction-rate was faster outside the resonance frequency range. Five pulses were needed to achieve a fast destruction-rate. An ultrasound intensity of 0.5 W/cm2 was shown to be the lowest intensity yielding a fast destruction-rate of Sonazoid® microbubbles. The possible non-beneficial effects in ischemic organs of ultrasound with characteristics used to enhance fibrinolysis in vivo were studied in two different models, one using non-perfused myocardia in pigs, and one using non-perfused brain tissue in rats. It was shown that prolonged exposure of low intensity pulsed ultrasound might increase instantaneous myocardial damage. However, the same frequency, intensity and duration of pulsed ultrasound did not seem to enhance ischemic damage in non-perfused rat brain or induce any damage in the perfused rat brain. In conclusion, ultrasound-enhanced fibrinolysis is induced by multiple mechanisms and drug specific reactions, and this study shows the importance of evaluating the effects of exposure on ischemic tissue, aiming at ultrasound-enhanced fibrinolysis

Utvärdering av att använda ITIL som ramverk för kommunala IT-leveranser

I denna uppsats undersöker vi användandet av ITIL i kommunala verksamheter genom att jämföra ett antal olika kvalitetskriterier som vi har tagit fram mellan de som använder sig av ITIL och de som inte gör det. Vår huvudfråga är ”Vilka skillnader kan vi identifiera mellan icke-ITIL och ITIL-kommuner i deras IT-organisationer?” Med denna vill vi ta fram data som kan svara på ifall ITIL är ett ramverk som förtjänar det goda rykte det har. Bör ITIL ses som en nyckel till en väl fungerande IT-verksamhet? Vi har kommit fram till att vi generellt kan identifiera ökad struktur, kvalitet och kontroll samt högre effektivitet hos de kommuner som använder ITIL. De kommuner som använder ITIL är generellt mycket nöjda med ramverket, och de känner att den effekt de förväntade sig av införandet är uppnådd. Vi har även undersökt hur vanligt förekommande användandet av ITIL är i kommunala verksamheter. Det visade sig att det var mycket vanligt då 85 % av respondenterna sa att de antingen använder ITIL på något sätt idag eller kommer börja inom en snar framtid. Enbart 15 % anger att de inte använder ITIL idag, och inte heller planerar att införa ramverket inom snar framtid

Quality of Chest Compressions Differs over Time between Advanced and Basic Life Support

Abstract Purpose: According to guideline recommendations, chest compressions (CC) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be performed at a rate of 100 -120 per minute, with a CC fraction (CCF) of ≥80%. The aim of this work is to explore whether CC quality differs between advanced life support (ALS) and basic life support (BLS) performed by two rescuers. Method: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed by two ambulance personnel in ten ALS and ten BLS manikin scenarios. Data from these scenarios were then compared with data on ten ALS cases from the clinical setting, all with non-shockable rhythms. Data from the first two 5-minute periods of CC were evaluated from impedance data (LIFEPAK 12 defibrillator monitors) using a modified Laerdal Skillmaster manikin. Quality parameters compared were: number of CC pauses (CCPs), P. Lindblad et al. 945 CC rate was 118 (113 -124) for BLS, 111 (105 -120) for ALS manikins and 123 (103 -128) CC/min for clinical ALS cases. Conclusion: None of the groups being studied could deliver CC at a rate of 100 -120 CC/min or a CCF of ≥80% over the whole 10-minute period in any of the resuscitation scenarios analyzed. However, BLS had the best compliance with CC quality recommendations according to the 2010 guidelines

Physiological Responses to Prolonged Aquatic Hypoxia in the Queensland Lungfish Neoceratodus forsteri

The effects of moderate and severe hypoxia on air breathing frequency and respiratory properties of the blood of the Queensland (Australian) lungfish Neoceratodus forsteri were measured in fish exposed to these conditions for 14-22 days at 20 degrees C. Haemoglobin oxygen affinity increased after exposure to moderate hypoxia (PwO2 = 60 mmHg), but did not increase further after exposure to severe hypoxia (PwO2 =40 mmHg). The P50 of whole blood (20 degrees C, PCO2 =16.0 mmHg) fell from 22.0 +/- 1.5 mmHg in normoxic conditions to 19.0 +/- 1.0 mmHg in hypoxic conditions. Under both moderate and severe hypoxia, haematocrit, haemoglobin, blood lactate, and erythrocyte phosphate concentrations did not differ from normoxic values. The observed increase in haemoglobin oxygen affinity in response to aquatic hypoxia is typical of compensatory responses seen in obligate water breathers, but smaller. This suggests that the capacity of lungfish to respond to hypoxia by breathing air removes the necessity for further left-shifting of the oxygen equilibrium curve

Can pulsed ultrasound increase tissue damage during ischemia? A study of the effects of ultrasound on infarcted and non-infarcted myocardium in anesthetized pigs

BACKGROUND: The same mechanisms by which ultrasound enhances thrombolysis are described in connection with non-beneficial effects of ultrasound. The present safety study was therefore designed to explore effects of beneficial ultrasound characteristics on the infarcted and non-infarcted myocardium. METHODS: In an open chest porcine model (n = 17), myocardial infarction was induced by ligating a coronary diagonal branch. Pulsed ultrasound of frequency 1 MHz and intensity 0.1 W/cm(2 )(I(SATA)) was applied during one hour to both infarcted and non-infarcted myocardial tissue. These ultrasound characteristics are similar to those used in studies of ultrasound enhanced thrombolysis. Using blinded assessment technique, myocardial damage was rated according to histopathological criteria. RESULTS: Infarcted myocardium exhibited a significant increase in damage score compared to non-infarcted myocardium: 6.2 ± 2.0 vs. 4.3 ± 1.5 (mean ± standard deviation), (p = 0.004). In the infarcted myocardium, ultrasound exposure yielded a further significant increase of damage scores: 8.1 ± 1.7 vs. 6.2 ± 2.0 (p = 0.027). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest an instantaneous additive effect on the ischemic damage in myocardial tissue when exposed to ultrasound of stated characteristics. The ultimate damage degree remains to be clarified

Evolution of model proteins on a foldability landscape

We model the evolution of simple lattice proteins as a random walk in a fitness landscape, where the fitness represents the ability of the protein to fold. At higher selective pressure, the evolutionary trajectories are confined to neutral networks where the native structure is conserved and the dynamics are non self-averaging and nonexponential. The optimizability of the corresponding native structure has a strong effect on the size of these neutral networks and thus on the nature of the evolutionary process. Proteins 29:461–466, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/38527/1/6_ftp.pd

Klarspråk i hållbarhetsrapporter : En kvalitativ undersökning av kommersiella företags användning av klarspråk i en svensk kontext

Syftet med studien är att genom textanalys undersöka om svenska kommersiella företag använder riktlinjer för klarspråk i sina hållbarhetsrapporter. Vidare undersöks om riktlinjerna, som är utvecklade för myndighetsspråk, även är lämpliga att tillämpa på hållbarhetsrapporter. Analysmodellen för textanalysen består av Språkrådets klarspråkstest. Hållbarhetsrapporter är ett sätt för företag att visa att och hur de arbetar med Corporate social responsibility/ansvarsfullt företagande, och de slumpmässigt utvalda företagen blev Atrium Ljungberg, Getinge och NCC. Genom textanalysen drogs slutsatserna att svenska, stora företag i hög grad arbetar med klarspråk och att det vore lämpligt med ett speciellt klarspråkstest för hållbarhetsrapporter