Kindergarten - a Universal Right for Children in Norway

The article is divided into three parts. In part 1 the Norwegian kindergarten is introduced. We present some facts and the purpose of the kindergarten as it appears in state documents. We also describe a historical backdrop. In part 2 we present some issues crucial to understanding how the relationship between kindergartens and the Norwegian state. Drawing on research, we discuss a number of key concepts. In part 3 we discuss debates in Norway about the content of the kindergarten, how it is to be staffed and related issues about the quality of kindergarten education and care

Skjerming : teoretisk begrunnelse og praktisk gjennomføring

Norsk: Denne studien er en del av Prosjekt Undervisningsavdeling og et ledd i den videre utviklingen av personalkompetansen knyttet til skjerming som metode på Akuttposten. Studien søker å kartlegge den eksisterende praksis ved to psykiatriske akuttposter med hensyn til intervensjonen skjerming. Skjerming er et utbredt metode ved behandling av akutte psykiatriske tilstander preget av psykotisk forvirring og eventuell fysisk utagering. Til sammen 14 ansatte med ulik formell kompetanse ved de to akuttpostene ble intervjuet for å klargjøre postenes begrunnelse og praktiske gjennomføring av denne metoden. Svarene ble kategorisert og systematisert og beskriver dagens skjermingspraksis. Analysen danner grunnlaget for en systematisk refleksjon over og forslag til en ny begrunnet skjermingspraksis som vil bli presentert for postpersonalet. I samarbeid med en av postene (Akuttposten) vil det bli utviklet strategier både på metodens faglige innhold og struktur.English: This study is a part of a four-year research collaboration between an acute ward in a psychiatric hospital and Hedmark College which aims at furthering of competence in the clinical setting. The study maps the ongoing practice related to seclusion on an acute ward as an intervention method connected to acute psychiatric illnesses such as psychotic disorders and/or aggressive behavior toward others. 14 employees with varied formal education were interviewed to identify the staffs theoretical reasoning and practical procedures related to the seclusion method. The analysis lays the foundation of a systematic reflection on seclusion and presents a sketch for a new seclusion procedure that will be further developed in collaboration with the staff

Faktorer som påvirker valg av hjemmekontor.

COVID-19 pandemien har medført en kraftig økning i bruk av hjemmekontor. Selv om det foreligger moderate mengder av forskning på området innenfor bruk av hjemmekontor før COVID-19 har pandemien eksponert en langt større andel av kontoransatte for hjemmekontor. Dette medfører at ansatte så vel som organisasjoner har oppnådd et bredere erfaringsgrunnlag og dermed dannet seg holdninger til fremtidig bruk av hjemmekontor. Økt bruk av hjemmekontor stiller følgelig nye krav til ledelsespraksis og ledelsesmessige implikasjoner, et forskningsområde vi mener kan og bør utvides og som vi fokusere på i denne oppgaven. Formålet med denne studien er som beskrevet av oppgavens problemstilling; “hvilke faktorer påvirker ansattes holdning samt intensjon om bruk av hjemmekontor etter COVID-19?”, men med et fokus på ledelsesmessige implikasjoner. I tilnærmingen til problemstillingen anvender vi Davis (1986) sin Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) og utvider denne med forklaringsvariabler til å forklare den ansattes holdning til- og intensjon om bruk av hjemmekontor etter COVID-19. Balanse mellom arbeid og fritid, hensyn til klima og miljø, støtte fra ledelsen samt sosiale behov bidrar til utvidelse av TAM og testes gjennom en PLS-SEM analyse. Dette er altså en kvantitativ studie, og for å svare på problemstillingen er det gjennomført en spørreundersøkelse blant ansatte i en virksomhet i Norge. Studiets resultater viser at ansattes holdning til- og intensjon om bruk av hjemmekontor forklares av opplevd brukervennlighet og opplevd nytteverdi. Studiet finner samtidig at øvrige forklaringsvariabler ikke har signifikant forklaringsverdi på ansattes holdning til bruk av hjemmekontor. Det understrekes imidlertid at resultatene fremkommer som følge av den valgte analysemetode, og at det samtidig i oppgaven er identifisert svakheter i operasjonaliseringen. Dette betyr derfor også at forklaringsvariabler som ikke hadde forklaringsverdi i dette studiet kan ha forklaringsverdi med endringer i operasjonaliseringen.Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a sharp increase in the use of home offices. Although there is a moderate amount of research in the field within the use of home offices before COVID-19, the pandemic has exposed a much larger proportion of white-collar workers to home offices. This means that employees as well as organizations have gained a broader experience base and thus formed attitudes towards the future use of home offices. Increased use of home offices consequently places new demands on management practice and managerial implications, a research area we believe can and should be expanded and which we focus on in this thesis. The purpose of this study is as described by "what factors influence employees' attitudes and intentions to use a home office under COVID-19?", but with a focus on managerial implications. In our approach to the research question, we use Davis' (1986) Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and expand this with explanatory variables to explain the employee's attitude and intention to use a home office according to COVID-19. Work-life-balance, consideration for climate and environment, support from management and social needs contribute to the expansion of TAM and are tested through a PLS-SEM analysis. This is thus a quantitative study, and in order to answer the problem, a survey was conducted among employees in a company in Norway. The results of the study show that employees' attitudes and intentions about using a home office are explained by perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. At the same time, the study finds that other explanatory variables do not have a significant explanatory value on employees' attitudes towards use of home offices. It is emphasized, however, that these results appear in the context of the chosen analysis method, and that at the same time weaknesses in the operationalization have been identified in the thesis. This means that explanatory variables that did not have explanatory value in this study, can have explanatory value with changes in the operationalization of the study

Ovarian endometriomas and IVF: a retrospective case-control study

We performed this retrospective case-control study analyzing 428 first-attempt in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles, among which 254 involved women with a previous or present diagnosis of ovarian endometriosis. First, the results of these 254 cycles were compared with 174 cycles involving patients with proven non-endometriotic tubal infertility having similar age and body mass index. Women with ovarian endometriosis had a significantly higher cancellation rate, but similar pregnancy, implantation and delivery rates as patients with tubal infertility. Second, among the women with ovarian endometriosis, the women with a history of laparoscopic surgery for ovarian endometriomas prior to IVF and no visual endometriosis at ovum pick-up (n = 112) were compared with the non-operated women and visual endometriomas at ovum pick-up (n = 142). Patients who underwent ovarian surgery before IVF had significantly shorter period, lower antral follicle count and required higher gonadotropin doses than patients with non-operated endometriomas. The two groups of women with a previous or present ovarian endometriosis did, however, have similar pregnancy, implantation and live birth rates. In conclusion, ovarian endometriosis does not reduce IVF outcome compared with tubal factor. Furthermore, laparoscopic removal of endometriomas does not improve IVF results, but may cause a decrease of ovarian responsiveness to gonadotropins

Hazards and Risks of Automated Passenger Ferry Operations in Norway

This paper describes the hazards and mitigation of risks for operating automated ferries in sheltered waters in Norway. Two cases have been explored, one with max 25Pax (persons on board) close to shore, and another involving fjord crossing with max 130Pax. The approach is based on the formal safety assessment FSA framework specified by IMO (International Maritime Organization). The first step has been a Hazard Identification-HAZID in collaboration with key stakeholders (manufacturers, maritime authority, operators, and researchers), based on action research, building on experience and risk perception of the stakeholders. The HAZIDs have been based on prior incidents, safety critical task analysis, and hazards that may impact personnel safety and security. We have identified key areas of concern: Fire, Collision/Grounding, Man Overboard, Evacuation, or Ferry capsizes. We have suggested design approaches/measures to reduce probabilities of hazards occurrence and/or mitigate consequences. Challenges of non-failsafe situations must be handled through emergency response centres, and mobilization of passengers.publishedVersio

Kunnskapsgrunnlaget for forvaltning av verneområder: Samiske perspektiver

Sametingsrådet har slått fast at det er behov for revidering av eldre verneområde forskrifter slik at samisk kultur- og næringsutøvelse får bedre vilkår i verneområder. Sametingsrådet har konstatert at det er behov for et styrket grunnkapsgrunnlag som synligjør hvordan dagens verneforskrifter fungerer og hvordan utfordringer samisk kulturutøvelse, samiske næringer og lokalsamfunn opplever i møte med vernede områder. Foreliggende rapport er et oppdragsarbeid for Sametinget som systematiserer dagens eksisterende kunnskap, supplert med nye data hentet fra direkte berørte. Rapporten oppsummerer åtte ulike funn og foreslår tiltak på fire ulike felter inkludert videre forskningsbehov om ovennevnte tema.Kunnskapsgrunnlaget for forvaltning av verneområder: Samiske perspektiverpublishedVersio

Associations between lifestyle factors and levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), phthalates and parabens in follicular fluid in women undergoing fertility treatment

Background: Concerns have been raised whether exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can alter reproductive functions and play a role in the aetiology of infertility in women. With increasing evidence of adverse effects, information on factors associated with exposure is necessary to form firm recommendations aiming at reducing exposure.Objective: Our aim was to identify associations between lifestyle factors including the home environment, use of personal care products (PCP), and dietary habits and concentrations of EDCs in ovarian follicular fluid.Methods: April-June 2016, 185 women undergoing ovum pick-up for in vitro fertilisation in Sweden were recruited. Correlation analyses were performed between self-reported lifestyle factors and concentration of EDCs analysed in follicular fluid. Habits related to cleaning, PCPs, and diet were assessed together with concentration of six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) [PFHxS, PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFDA and PFUnDA], methyl paraben and eight phthalate metabolites [MECPP, MEHPP, MEOHP, MEHP, cxMinCH, cxMiNP, ohMiNP, MEP, MOHiBP]. Spearman's partial correlations were adjusted for age, parity and BMI.Results: Significant associations were discovered between multiple lifestyle factors and concentrations of EDCs in ovarian follicular fluid. After correcting p values for multiple testing, frequent use of perfume was associated with MEP (correlation rho = 0.41 (confidence interval 0.21-0.47), p < 0.001); hens' egg consumption was positively associated with PFOS (rho = 0.30 (0.15-0.43), p = 0.007) and PFUnDA (rho = 0.27 (0.12-0.40), p = 0.036). White fish consumption was positively associated with PFUnDA (rho = 0.34 (0.20-0.47), p < 0.001) and PFDA (rho = 0.27 (0.13-0.41), p = 0.028). More correlations were discovered when considering the raw uncorrected p values. Altogether, our results suggest that multiple lifestyle variables affect chemical contamination of follicular fluid.Impact statement: This study shows how lifestyle factors correlate with the level of contamination in the ovary by both persistent and semi-persistent chemicals in women of reproductive age. Subsequently, these data can be used to form recommendations regarding lifestyle to mitigate possible negative health outcomes and fertility problems associated with chemical exposure, and to inform chemical policy decision making. Our study can also help form the basis for the design of larger observational and intervention studies to examine possible effects of lifestyle changes on exposure levels, and to unravel the complex interactions between biological factors, lifestyle and chemical exposures in more detail

Deltex-1 mutations predict poor survival in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Non peer reviewe

Follicular fluid and blood levels of persistent organic pollutants and reproductive outcomes among women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are industrial chemicals resistant to degradation and have been shown to have adverse effects on reproductive health in wildlife and humans. Although regulations have reduced their levels, they are still ubiquitously present and pose a global concern. Here, we studied a cohort of 185 women aged 21-43 years with a median of 2 years of infertility who were seeking assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment at the Carl von Linne Clinic in Uppsala, Sweden. We analyzed the levels of 9 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), 10 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 3 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and 8 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the blood and follicular fluid (FF) samples collected during ovum pick-up. Impact of age on chemical transfer from blood to FF was analyzed. Associations of chemicals, both individually and as a mixture, to 10 ART endpoints were investigated using linear, logistic, and weighted quantile sum regression, adjusted for age, body mass index, parity, fatty fish intake and cause of infertility. Out of the 30 chemicals, 20 were detected in more than half of the blood samples and 15 in FF. Chemical transfer from blood to FF increased with age. Chemical groups in blood crossed the blood-follicle barrier at different rates: OCPs > PCBs > PFASs. Hexachlorobenzene, an OCP, was associated with lower anti-Miillerian hormone, clinical pregnancy, and live birth. PCBs and PFASs were associated with higher antral follicle count and ovarian response as measured by ovarian sensitivity index, but also with lower embryo quality. As a mixture, similar findings were seen for the sum of PCBs and PFASs. Our results suggest that age plays a role in the chemical transfer from blood to FF and that exposure to POPs significantly associates with ART outcomes. We strongly encourage further studies to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of reproductive effects of POPs in humans