The use of light, restrictive feeding, fibrous feed and stocking density and the consequences for animal welfare for poultry species kept in Norway - Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment

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The use of light, restrictive feeding, fibrous feed and stocking density and the consequences for animal welfare for poultry species kept in Norway - Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment

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Risk assessment of marking and tracing methods with regards to the welfare of farmed salmonids. Opinion of the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety

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Risk assessment of marking and tracing methods with regards to the welfare of farmed salmonids. Opinion of the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety

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Circulating markers of extracellular matrix remodelling in severe COVID-19 patients

Background Abnormal remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) has generally been linked to pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis and may also play a role in the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19. To further elucidate the role of ECM remodelling and excessive fibrogenesis in severe COVID-19, we examined circulating levels of mediators involved in various aspects of these processes in COVID-19 patients. Methods Serial blood samples were obtained from two cohorts of hospitalised COVID-19 patients (n = 414). Circulating levels of ECM remodelling mediators were quantified by enzyme immunoassays in samples collected during hospitalisation and at 3-month follow-up. Samples were related to disease severity (respiratory failure and/or treatment at the intensive care unit), 60-day total mortality and pulmonary pathology after 3-months. We also evaluated the direct effect of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 on the release of the different ECM mediators in relevant cell lines. Results Several of the measured markers were associated with adverse outcomes, notably osteopontin (OPN), S100 calcium-binding protein A12 and YKL-40 were associated with disease severity and mortality. High levels of ECM mediators during hospitalisation were associated with computed tomography thorax pathology after 3-months. Some markers (i.e. growth differential factor 15, galectin 3 and matrix metalloproteinase 9) were released from various relevant cell lines (i.e. macrophages and lung cell lines) in vitro after exposure to inactivated SARS-CoV-2 suggesting a direct link between these mediators and the causal agent of COVID-19. Conclusion Our findings highlight changes to ECM remodelling and particularly a possible role of OPN, S100A12 and YKL-40 in the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19

Respiratory dysfunction three months after severe COVID-19 is associated with gut microbiota alterations

Background: Although coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is primarily a respiratory infection, mounting evidence suggests that the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is involved in the disease, with gut barrier dysfunction and gut microbiota alterations being related to disease severity. Whether these alterations persist and are related to long-term respiratory dysfunction remains unknown. Methods: Plasma was collected during hospital admission and after three months from the NOR-Solidarity trial (n = 181) and analysed for markers of gut barrier dysfunction and inflammation. At the three-month follow-up, pulmonary function was assessed by measuring the diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO ). Rectal swabs for gut microbiota analyses were collected (n = 97) and analysed by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. Results: Gut microbiota diversity was reduced in COVID-19 patients with respiratory dysfunction, defined as DLCO below the lower limit of normal three months after hospitalisation. These patients also had an altered global gut microbiota composition, with reduced relative abundance of 20 bacterial taxa and increased abundance of five taxa, including Veillonella, potentially linked to fibrosis. During hospitalisation, increased plasma levels of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) were strongly associated with respiratory failure, defined as pO2 /fiO2 -(P/F ratio)Respiratory dysfunction three months after severe COVID-19 is associated with gut microbiota alterationsacceptedVersio

Forskningsetiske retningslinjer for samfunnsvitenskap og humaniora

Den nasjonale forskningsetiske komité for samfunnsvitenskap og humaniora (NESH) er et uavhengig og rådgivende organ, som har ansvar for å utarbeide nasjonale forskningsetiske retningslinjer. Den første utgaven av NESHs retningslinjer ble utgitt i 1993, og de har kommet i reviderte utgaver i 1999, 2006 og 2016. For mer om NESH og retningslinjene, se vedlegg. I denne utgaven har NESH valgt å fremheve og tydeliggjøre de grunnleggende forskningsetiske normene. Formålet er å fremheve NESHs retningslinjer som en selvstendig kilde til forskningsetisk refleksjon og kontinuering diskusjon i forskerfellesskapet. NESH har også presisert hvordan forskning i økende grad er under press, og hvordan ulike aktører som oppdragsgivere, finansiører og samarbeidspartnere har medansvar for å ivareta forskningsetikken. Videre er skillet mellom etikk og juss presisert for å tydeliggjøre grenseflatene mot henholdsvis gransking av vitenskapelig uredelighet og krav om rettsgrunnlag ved behandling av personopplysninger. Høsten 2020 ble det reviderte utkastet til nasjonale retningslinjer sendt på høring. NESH mottok over 60 innspill fra forskere, forskningsinstitusjoner og andre forskningsaktører. En arbeidsgruppe bestående av Elisabeth Staksrud (leder), Ivar Kolstad (nestleder) og Vidar Enebakk (sekretariatsleder) har gått gjennom alle innspill og utarbeidet forslag, som er grundig drøftet og vedtatt av alle medlemmene i komiteen.publishedVersio

Ultrasonic Evaluation of Well Integrity

This thesis presents the acoustic theory behind current ultrasonic cement evaluation tools. The UltraSonic Imager tool's pulse echo technique and the new Isolation Scanner tool's pitch-catch leaky lamb wave measuring technique is explained. A laboratory experiment is conducted on a steel casing set-up (BeCaLoS) designed by SINTEF Petroleum Research to test, and highlight weaknesses of these measuring techniques. Both evaluation methods are successfully performed under four different conditions; with air, water, mud and cement behind the steel casing. Pulse-echo wave resonance attenuation measurements prove to be successful in evaluating the physical state of the material behind the casing. Interference from the third interface echo in the resonance waveform gives good annulus thickness information. Calculated cement impedance values indicate the presence of a microannuls.The pitch-catch plate wave attenuation measurements prove the evaluation method's weakness to thick casings. Lamb wave mode analysis is done and shows a possible mix of higher-order lamb modes present in the plate wave. Annulus material with high acoustic attenuation gave values that were difficult to interpret. The cement measurements showed low attenuation values caused by cement impedance above critical values; illustrating the importance of using both pulse-echo and pitch-catch to determine well integrity conditions. Third interface echoes were recorded successfully and gave a pretty accurate annulus thickness value. A question was raised to whether the amplitude of the initial flexural wave can be used to give information on annulus condition.The need for cement evaluation will greatly increase in the near future, and the limitations of current tools are a cause for concern and further research in the field of cement evaluation is encouraged