Menneskerettighetenes filosofiske fundament i møte med japansk kultur og verdensbilde

Master's thesis in global studies. School of Mission and Theology, May 201

Beyond ‘periphery’: a detailed and nuanced taxonomy of the Norwegian regions

Increasing attention is being paid towards the influence of regional contexts on innovation activities within regional development studies. Some of the literature in economic geography tends to consider the various peripheral areas as being homogenous and partly characterized by their remote location, weak innovation inputs and lack of knowledge exchange. This paper questions this approach by examining the role of innovation activities in peripheral regions. We offer a detailed and multifaceted taxonomy of the Norwegian economic regions. From an empirical viewpoint, the adoption of cluster analysis and a broad set of innovation, economic and territorial indicators allowed us to provide a nuanced picture of the current fabric of Norwegian innovation and economic-production. With the benefit of insights from relevant strands of literature (e.g. regional development, innovation systems and multi-scalar innovation networks), the case of Norway presented in our paper contributes to the scholarly debate on the role of structural preconditions for the innovation of firms in diverse peripheral areas.publishedVersio

Hva bidrar til eierskap av balanced scorecard på avdelingsnivå i Statoil?

Masteroppgave i bedriftsledelse (MBA) - Høgskolen i Bodø, 2010Denne oppgaven tar for Balanced Scorecard og bruken og eierskapet til det på avdelingsnivå i Statoil. Tre forskjellige avdelinger er undersøkt ved hjelp av kvalitativ metode der forfatterne som representanter for avdelingene har opptrådt som skjulte observatører og innhentet mye av dataene som er brukt i undersøkelsen. Det er også intervjuet totalt 12 personer, 5 ansatte fra de tre avdelingene i tillegg til avdelingslederne og ledernes ledere. En Controller er også intervjuet. Intervjuene brukes for å bekrefte og korrigere den informasjonen som forfatterne har samlet via observasjon. Teorier for tradisjonell budsjettering og planlegging er presentert for å ha en kontekst å sammenligne med. Balanced Scorecard i Statoil må ses i sammenheng med Beyond Budgeting som er styringssystemet som brukes i konsernet. Det utarbeides ikke budsjetter og planer i tradisjonell forstand. Balanced Scorecard er et styringsverktøy som kan brukes i begge styringssystemene. Teori omkring Balanced Scorecard er også presentert. Teorier omkring eierskap, hvilke faktorer som påvirker det er presentert. Problemstillingen som søkes besvart er "Hva bidrar til eierskap til Balanced Scorecard på avdelingsnivå i Statoil?" De tre avdelingene har vist seg å ha temmelig forskjellige følelser av eierskap til verktøyet Balanced Scorecard. Den avdelingen (Lett Brønnintervensjon) som ligger nærmest hovedprosessen i Statoil (fremstilling av hydrokarboner) viser seg å ha minst eierskap til verktøyet som er så sentralt i styringen av konsernet. Avdelingene Marin teknikk og Projects & Plant har større eierskap til verktøyet, men eierskapet er også her forskjellig. Involvering og ansvar for egen Balanced Scorecard er det to forholdene som gir mest eierskap til verktøyet. I Marin Teknikk er det en sterk eierskapsfølelse til Balanced Scorecard, de ansatte er ansvarlige for utformingen av den og deretter i evalueringen av de forskjellige målsettingene og aksjonene. Mesteparten av aktiviteten rundt Balanced Scorecard foregår i plenum på avdelingsmøtene som holdes med 2-4 ukers mellomrom. I Projects & Plant er de ansatte mindre involvert i prosessene rundt Balanced Scorecard. De deltar, men i mindre grad i plenum, slik at prosessene er mindre åpne. De ansatte har i denne avdelingen oftere dedikerte målsetninger og aksjoner i Balanced Scorecard, som da kun gjelder en eller få av de ansatte. Kun de som har målsetninger og aksjoner deltar i diskusjonene. I Light Well Intervention er det i liten grad involvering av de ansatte i avdelingens Balanced Scorecard. Det er kun avdelingens leder som har noe forhold til den, for de ansatte er Balanced Scorecard sett på som et ledelsesverktøy som de ikke har det store forholde til. De ansatte har sterkere eierskap til Daglig Brønn Rapport som fungerer som et verktøy og substitutt for Balanced Scorecard i hverdagen. I DBR rapporten ligger hovedfokus på operasjoner og HMS som er de interne prosessene i Balanced Scorecard

Reliability and validity of the Norwegian child and parent versions of the DISABKIDS Chronic Generic Module (DCGM-37) and Diabetes-Specific Module (DSM-10)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>International guidelines on type 1 diabetes advocate routine screening of health-related quality of life (HRQOL). DISABKIDS questionnaires are the first instruments developed across cultures and nations to provide age-appropriate measures of HRQOL in children with chronic diseases. DISABKIDS includes a Chronic Generic Module 37 (DCGM-37) and disease-specific modules. The purpose of this study was to examine reliability and validity of the Norwegian versions of the DISABKIDS questionnaires in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The DCGM-37 and the Diabetes Specific Module-10 (DDM-10) were translated into Norwegian using standard forward-backward translation. Eight to 19 year old children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes scheduled for routine follow-up at three diabetic clinics in Norway and one of their parents were invited to complete the DCGM-37 and the DDM-10. Internal consistency was determined using Cronbach's alpha. Results were compared with those of the Child Health Questionnaire Children Form-87 (CHQ-CF87) and Child Health Questionnaire Parent Form-50 which are established generic questionnaires. DISABKIDS results were related to age, gender, duration of diabetes, mode of insulin delivery and metabolic control. Clinical data were obtained from the Norwegian Childhood Diabetes Registry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of 198 eligible child-parent dyads, 103 (52%) completed the questionnaires. Mean age was 13.6 (2.6), range 8-19 yrs, 52% were boys. Cronbach's alpha was > 0.70 for all the DISABKIDS sub-scales except two (physical ability and social inclusion). There were moderate to high correlations (0.65-0.81) between the DISABKIDS scales and mental/emotional sub-scales of CHQ-CF87. Increasing age and higher HbA1c were significantly associated with reduced HRQOL scores. Parents tended to score their child's HRQOL lower than the children/adolescents themselves.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The study shows that the DISABKIDS instruments are applicable to a Norwegian childhood diabetes population. They seem to be a relevant supplement to other clinical indicators in medical practice and research.</p

The role of social cognition in perceived thresholds for transport mode change

Author's accepted version (postprint).This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Elsevier in Transport Policy on 18/09/2019.Available online: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967070X18305560This article is based on a study that investigated social cognitive psychological factors associated with economic thresholds related to using public or other sustainable transport modes. A survey was conducted using a random sample of the Norwegian population living in the six largest urban regions (n = 1039). The respondents were asked to indicate the monthly increase in car taxes and fees that they would perceive necessary to make them use sustainable transport modes instead of their private car. The findings revealed that those who perceived themselves as definitive car users (strongly reluctant to change transport mode) reported low tolerance of push measures, low awareness of and ascription of responsibility for the consequences of car use, and weak environmental norms. Environmental norms, attitudes towards transport and push measure tolerance were the strongest predictors of the respondents belonging to either the lowest or the highest threshold groups. The authors conclude that measures aimed at increasing the costs of car use and improving the accessibility of public transport in urban areas could be supplemented by social cognitive factors.acceptedVersio

Biosynthesis of Macrolactam BE-14106 Involves Two Distinct PKS Systems and Amino Acid Processing Enzymes for Generation of the Aminoacyl Starter Unit

SummaryBE-14106 is a macrocyclic lactam with an acyl side chain previously identified in a marine-derived Streptomyces sp. The gene cluster for BE-14106 biosynthesis was cloned from a Streptomyces strain newly isolated from marine sediments collected in the Trondheimsfjord (Norway). Bioinformatics and experimental analyses of the genes in the cluster suggested an unusual mechanism for assembly of the molecule. Biosynthesis of the aminoacyl starter apparently involves the concerted action of a distinct polyketide synthase (PKS) system and several enzymes that activate and process an amino acid. The resulting starter unit is loaded onto a second PKS complex, which completes the synthesis of the macrolactam ring. Gene inactivation experiments, enzyme assays with heterologously expressed proteins, and feeding studies supported the proposed model for the biosynthesis and provided new insights into the assembly of macrolactams with acyl side chain

Raised Serum Markers of T Cell Activation and Exhaustion in Granulomatous-Lymphocytic Interstitial Lung Disease in Common Variable Immunodeficiency

Purpose About 20–30% of patients with common variable immunodefciency (CVID) develop granulomatous-lymphocytic interstitial lung disease (GLILD) as one of several non-infectious complications to their immunodefciency. The purpose of this study was to identify biomarkers that could distinguish GLILD from other non-infectious complications in CVID. Methods We analyzed serum biomarkers related to infammation, pulmonary epithelium injury, fbrogenesis, and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, and compared three subgroups of CVID: GLILD patients (n=16), patients with other non-infectious complications (n=37), and patients with infections only (n=20). Results We found that GLILD patients had higher levels of sCD25, sTIM-3, IFN-γ, and TNF, refecting T cell activation and exhaustion, compared to both CVID patients with other infammatory complications and CVID with infections only. GLILD patients also had higher levels of SP-D and CC16, proteins related to pulmonary epithelium injury, as well as the ECM remodeling marker MMP-7, than patients with other non-infectious complications. Conclusion GLILD patients have elevated serum markers of T cell activation and exhaustion, pulmonary epithelium injury, and ECM remodeling, pointing to potentially important pathways in GLILD pathogenesis, novel targets for therapy, and promising biomarkers for clinical evaluation of these patients

Health-related quality of life in patients with newly diagnosed inflammatory bowel disease: an observational prospective cohort study (IBSEN III)

Purpose This unselected, population-based cohort study aimed to determine the level of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) at the time of diagnosis compared with a reference population and identify the demographic factors, psychosocial measures, and disease activity markers associated with HRQoL. Methods Adult patients newly diagnosed with CD or UC were prospectively enrolled. HRQoL was measured using the Short Form 36 (SF-36) and Norwegian Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaires. Clinical significance was assessed using Cohen’s d effect size and further compared with a Norwegian reference population. Associations between HRQoL and symptom scores, demographic factors, psychosocial measures, and disease activity markers were analyzed. Results Compared with the Norwegian reference population, patients with CD and UC reported significantly lower scores in all SF-36 dimensions, except for physical functioning. Cohen’s d effect sizes for men and women in all SF-36 dimensions were at least moderate, except for bodily pain and emotional role for men with UC and physical functioning for both sexes and diagnoses. In the multivariate regression analysis, depression subscale scores ≥ 8 on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, substantial fatigue, and high symptom scores were associated with reduced HRQoL. Conclusion Patients newly diagnosed with CD and UC reported statistically and clinically significantly lower scores in seven of the eight SF-36 dimensions than the reference population. Symptoms of depression, fatigue, and elevated symptom scores were associated with poorer HRQoL.publishedVersio

Violacein-Producing Collimonas sp. from the Sea Surface Microlayer of Costal Waters in Trøndelag, Norway

A new strain belonging to the genus Collimonas was isolated from the sea surface microlayer off the coast of Trøndelag, Norway. The bacterium, designated Collimonas CT, produced an antibacterial compound active against Micrococcus luteus. Subsequent studies using LC-MS identified this antibacterial compound as violacein, known to be produced by several marine-derived bacteria. Fragments of the violacein biosynthesis genes vioA and vioB were amplified by PCR from the Collimonas CT genome and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of these sequences demonstrated close relatedness of the Collimonas CT violacein biosynthetic gene cluster to those in Janthinobacterium lividum and Duganella sp., suggesting relatively recent horizontal gene transfer. Considering diverse biological activities of violacein, Collimonas CT shall be further studied as a potential producer of this compound