How national parks change a rural municipality's development strategies - The Skjåk case, Norway

The governance structure on which contemporary nature conservation policy and practice are based represents a new structure that may affect development strategies in rural municipalities. The purpose of the article is to analyse the dynamics of change in local place development strategies in the wake of proposals of and establishments of national parks in a rural municipality in Norway. The empirical analysis is based on a qualitative longitudinal study that spanned a period of more than 20 years. The author claims that neo-endogenous approaches represent a valuable addition to studies that have treated state-driven nature conservation initiatives in terms of local resistance and unbalanced power relations. This due to the article's focus on co-evolution and the development of local capacity through external relations. Additionally, the article demonstrates the value of longitudinal studies when rural dynamics of change are investigated. Both planning and complexity theories are combined with assemblage theory are applied in order to conceptualize the dynamics of change from a local perspective. The author concludes that the national parks trigger strategic shifts and new approaches to place development that challenge previous strategies. Moreover, the local ability to act for change is strongly connected to processes of deterritorialization and reterritorialization. Additionally, new challenges grow in these processes of change, namely tensions between the defined and the undefined becoming when results in terms of goals and purposeful ends are not achieved.publishedVersio

[Review of] Irene Vilar, Impossible Motherhood: Testimony of an Abortion Addict

From its flesh-toned cover etched with red tallies marking the author\u27s fifteen aborted pregnancies, to its unflinching accounts of each procedure, Irene Vilar\u27s Impossible Motherhood: Testimony of an Abortion Addict forces readers to confront the issue of abortion. Though the topic is inevitably divisive, Vilar\u27s purpose, as stated from the prologue of her memoir, is clearly neither didactic nor partisan

The strategic value of contradictions: exploring the practices of climate planning in Bergen, Norway

Understanding how cities develop climate plans is crucial to capture their potential to achieve ambitious climate goals. Previous literature has highlighted the role of external pressures or heroic actors in driving local changes. By highlighting the everyday practices of actors in urban climate planning, we reveal new sets of contradictions in climate governance. Drawing from social practice theory, this paper examines how contradictions were managed in the process of developing a new climate plan in Bergen, Norway. Through a variety of empirical sources, we explore the strategic value these offer, and the organisational work accomplished by the navigation of contradictions. We highlight three strategic benefits of negotiating contradictions: the legitimisation, expansion and signalling of climate work. In conclusion, the paper argues that considering practices of climate planning reveals novel forms of agency, namely the potential of mundane organisational processes and the pivotal role of civil servants in this work.publishedVersio

How Does Place Matter to Highly Skilled Migrants? Work/Non-work Experiences of International Physicians in Norway and Sweden

The article tackles the question of how place matters to migrant physicians in the regions of Agder in Norway and Skåne in Sweden by exploring how place-specific conditions affect their experiences in the work, private, family and social domains of life. For this purpose, the article uses thematic analysis of the narrative material gathered through 25 semi-structured interviews. The lens of work/non-work domains, combined with a practice-oriented approach to place, highlights the complexity of lived experiences as they evolve in a particular context. Three main findings are identified: the non-homogenous significance of place across life domains, the vital role of transborder connections and obligations that affect individual and family resources for work/non-work negotiations in the place of settlement and the limits to the skill-based privileges in the place of settlement, which are notable in the domain of work but not replicated in non-work domains.publishedVersio

Hva er sammenhengen mellom teologi og samfunnssyn i Lausannebevegelsens primærdokument fra 1974, Lausannepakten?

Masteroppgave i kristendomskunnskap - Høgskolen i Agder 200

En statlig norm for livsfortolkning : en analyse av debatten om "Felles ekteskapslov for heterofile og homofile par” ved hjelp av Robert C. Nevilles teori om symbolsk engasjement

In this study, the process leading up to the adoption of the Norwegian Same-sex marriage laws is taken as an example of how normativity is institutionalized in a field related to the religious dimensions of life, in a pluralized society. A comparative analysis of interpretations of the personal identity and the norm for the primary human affiliation in three categories of documents is performed, based on Robert Cumming Neville’s hypothesis of theology as symbolic engagement. These documents are (1) The UN Convention of the Rights of the Child and Norwegian family laws, (2) the governmental hearing document proposing changes in Norwegian marriage- and family laws, including enclosed reports, and (3) hearing statements from three consultative bodies affiliated to Christian traditions. The study sheds light on the degree to which post-colonial criticisms of power at play and universalism are taken into consideration in the legislative process. Three theses are discussed and supported by the findings of the analysis: The hearing document proposing the Same-sex marriage laws presupposes that religious symbols, understood as interpretations constructing the world, are renegotiated. Through their statements, hearing bodies affiliated to Christian traditions are giving relevant observations, and backing up their critical comments with general and not dogmatic arguments. Through the proposal, symbols from one agent’s philosophy of life are institutionalized as normative for the many different philosophies of life, which the inhabitants of a pluralist society engage to orient and transform their lives. The study discloses that, through the proposal, homosexual orientation is inserted as an alternative interpretation of personal identity, and engaged as an orienting symbol for marriage and family law. Rather than following the Convention of the Rights of the Child in including human affiliations in its interpretation of personal identity, the government engages an interpretation, which ignores such affiliations. The consequences are that the conceptual framework engaged does not facilitate a much needed discussion about the consequence the reform has on the rights of the child, and the way in which Norwegian laws attend to the child’s best interest. The proposal neither clarifies the relationship between the two different interpretations of personal identity within the legislation, nor the consequences of introducing different rights based on different interpretations of personal identity into the legislation. By analyzing interpretations of the norm for the primary human affiliation, it is found that the proposal renegotiated this symbol. Biological origin, which has been taken to unconditionally constitute parenthood in UN conventions and Norwegian legislation, is made conditional through the proposal. A new symbol of the primary human affiliation is not accounted for, but intention is introduced as a constituting criterion alone and in combination with biological origin. In sum it is found that the proposal introduces inconsistencies into the legislation both with regards to equal rights between children, between women married to women and women married to men, between female married couples and male married couples, and between married and single women. These inconsistencies are not explained and clarified in the process. The hearing bodies did offer comments and objections to the proposal. These were hardly taken into consideration, and it is found that arguments were declined on the basis of the agents’ identities. The hearing statements included considerations about the ambition of the initiative. The reform was introduced as a measure to prevent discrimination and secure the human rights of lesbians and gays. Hence, the hearing document finds that the protection of the human rights of lesbians and gays through Norwegian legislation exceeds the demand of the UN conventions. It is found that the proposal disclosed an ambition to introduce a governmental norm for the inhabitants’, religious communities, and philosophies of lives’ interpretations of life, justified as a step against prejudice. Furthermore, the initiative is characterized by an international ambition of human rights development, to oppose discrimination and prejudice in the legislation and praxis of other countries. It is clear from the analysis that to the degree that post-colonial criticisms of power at play and universalism are taken into consideration in the legislative process, the hearing bodies affiliated to Christian traditions raised these considerations. Their arguments are not attended to and the Same-sex marriage laws repeats the practice of making one agent’s doctrine the norm for all inhabitants’ interpretations of what is good, true and just in a pluralist society

Handover Architectures for Heterogeneous Networks Using the Media Independent Information Handover (MIH)

In heterogeneous networks, network selection by nature is a multi-dimensional problem. Many parameters need to be considered for handover decision making. Apart from handover accuracy and efficiency, an important consideration is the scalability and signaling overhead of such handover algorithms. In this article we propose to break down a Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) based heterogeneous handover algorithm in two parts. The execution of the first part is carried out in an independent and proactive manner prior to the actual handover, assuming three different handover architectures. The handover architectures are differentiated based upon the level of the distribution of the handover algorithm among multiple network components. The Media Independent Handover (MIH) and its different services are used to retrieve and share information among MIH enabled nodes and for conformity among heterogeneous network standards. The proposed algorithm is evaluated with respect to handover accuracy, handover delay efficiency and signaling overhead. The evaluation is carried out for all three handover architectures using simulations. Only handovers between Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) and WiMAX (IEEE 802.16) networks are considered. But the handover framework is general and can be extended to consider other wireless and mobile communication networks

Intensjon til å spare i aksjer og fond

De lave rentene som koronapandemien førte med seg, har ført til et ytterligere økt fokus på aksje- og fondssparing. Det kan gjøre det mer aktuelt å foretrekke annen sparing fremfor bank. Formålet med denne oppgaven er å kartlegge hvilke faktorer som påvirker individers intensjon til å spare i aksjer og fond. For å besvare problemstillingen valgte vi å ta utgangspunktet i teorien om planlagt atferd (Ajzen, 1991). Vår modell ble utvidet med å inkludere individuelle forhold som mulige årsaker til holdning og intensjon. Enkelte personlighetstrekk og personlige verdier, samt individets evne til å ta hensyn til fremtidige konsekvenser er argumentert inn i en analysemodell. Modellen ble også utvidet med to faktorer knyttet til kontroll, kunnskap om aksjer og fond og mestring. Bakgrunnen for valg av teori og utvidelse av modell tok utgangspunkt i tidligere studier på temaet individers motiver for sparing fra et sosialpsykologisk perspektiv. Resultatene fra vår studie viste at holdning og (atferds)kontroll hadde sterkest forklaringskraft til intensjon til å spare i aksjer og fond. Videre viste resultatene at kunnskap hadde sterk påvirkning på kontroll. Av personlighetstrekkene var det risikotilbøyelighet som hadde størst påvirkning på holdning, mens planmessighet og optimisme viste en svakere sammenheng. Blant verdisettene var det trygghetsfølelse som hadde sterkest påvirkning på holdning, mens materialisme hadde en negativ effekt på holdning til å spare i aksjer og fond. Funnene i oppgaven bekrefter ikke teorien om planlagt atferd fult ut, ved at sosiale normer ikke viste signifikant sammenheng med intensjon. Til tross for dette kan studien støtte opp om eksisterende litteratur omkring sparing, og hvilke faktorer som påvirker individets sparevalg

Forenkling og kompleksitet: Bærekraft og samfunnsfagene i norsk skole

Forenkling og kompleksitet: Bærekraft og samfunnsfagene i norsk skol

Early Detection of Subsurface Fatigue Cracks in Rolling Element Bearings by the Knowledge-Based Analysis of Acoustic Emission

Aiming at early detection of subsurface cracks induced by contact fatigue in rotating machinery, the knowledge-based data analysis algorithm is proposed for health condition monitoring through the analysis of acoustic emission (AE) time series. A robust fault detector is proposed, and its effectiveness was demonstrated for the long-term durability test of a roller made of case-hardened steel. The reliability of subsurface crack detection was proven using independent ultrasonic inspections carried out periodically during the test. Subsurface cracks as small as 0.5 mm were identified, and their steady growth was tracked by the proposed AE technique. Challenges and perspectives of the proposed methodology are unveiled and discussed.publishedVersio