The Identity of Evidence: Documentary Evidence in the Federal Acknowledgement Process.

In the Federal Acknowledgment Process (FAP) indigenous groups submit 1000s of documents as evidence to prove they satisfy seven mandatory acknowledgment criteria established at 25 C.F.R. § 83.7. Despite a broad consensus among those who study federal acknowledgment that documentary evidence is critically important it has never before been studied. This exploratory study provides new insights and new data about the role of documentary evidence in the FAP. Through a synthetic review I identify the main factors attracting prior research attention and believed to influence outcomes. I analyze metadata for more 126,000 documents submitted by 11 of the 44 petitioners receiving a final determination. Unsuccessful petitioners on average submit more documentary evidence per member, more from federal sources, more letters, more federal letters and more tribal letters. This analysis points toward explanations of petition failure focused on documentary absences more than resource deficits. Successful petitioners enjoy a disproportionate share only of letters from pan-Indian legal organizations and members of congress. Using qualitative and quantitative methods I also analyze 62 Technical Assistance (TA) letters sent to 42 of the 44 petitioners by OFA staff communicating perceived weaknesses in documentary evidence years before a final determination. I describe differences in the evaluation of documentary evidence by future outcome, show which criteria are most vexing in relation to documentary evidence, extract vocabularies characterizing TA letters, and report the results of a Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) of a number of key documentary and other acknowledgment factors. My analysis of TA letters suggests that only the criteria reliant on the perceptions and documentation of non-Indians predict outcomes and that success is more difficult now than in the past and appears influenced by geography.  PHDInformationUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/110356/1/trond_1.pd

Pseudomonas aeruginosa contamination of mouth swabs during production causing a major outbreak

BACKGROUND: In 2002 we investigated an outbreak comprising 231 patients in Norway, caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and linked to the use of contaminated mouth swabs called Dent-O-Sept. Here we describe the extent of contamination of the swabs, and identify critical points in the production process that made the contamination possible, in order to prevent future outbreaks. METHODS: Environmental investigation with microbiological examination of production, ingredients and product, molecular typing of bacteria and a system audit of production. RESULTS: Of the 1565 swabs examined from 149 different production batches the outbreak strain of P. aeruginosa was detected in 76 swabs from 12 batches produced in 2001 and 2002. In total more than 250 swabs were contaminated with one or more microbial species. P. aeruginosa was detected from different spots along the production line. The audit revealed serious breeches of production regulations. Health care institutions reported non-proper use of the swabs and weaknesses in their purchasing systems. CONCLUSION: Biofilm formation in the wet part of the production is the most plausible explanation for the continuous contamination of the swabs with P. aeruginosa over a period of at least 30 weeks. When not abiding to production regulations fatal consequences for the users may ensue. For the most vulnerable patient groups only documented quality-controlled, high-level disinfected products and items should be used in the oropharynx

Safety and security of drones in the oil and gas industry

This paper describes safety and security challenges and best practices of the use of drones in the oil and gas industry, with consideration of the harsh weather conditions in the Northern Territories of Norway. We have described the present status of the use of drones in air, on water (surface) and under water. Drones are being used in the industry to reduce or remove dangerous, dirty or dull operations from humans and to increase quality of data collection. The Norwegian oil and gas industry and authorities have a high focus on continuous improvement of safety, security and environmental issues. This has for instance resulted in the offshore helicopter transport in Norway to be among the safest offshore transport worldwide. Use of drones in the safety conscious oil and gas industry, should help us to improve the safety practices of drone use in general. Our suggestions are to focus on systematic data reporting of the use of drones, establish guidelines for risk assessments and operations, improve the use and testing of drones in the industry (i.e. build more experience) and support improved robustness and resilience of drone use. In addition, we see the need for improved quality of the interfaces between human operators and drones to ensure meaningful human control.publishedVersio

Macular thickness measurements in healthy Norwegian volunteers: an optical coherence tomography study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ethnic, intersubject, interoperator and intermachine differences in measured macular thickness seem to exist. Our purpose was to collect normative macular thickness data in Norwegians and to evaluate the association between macular thickness and age, gender, parity, and contraception status.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Retinal thickness was measured by Stratus Optical Coherence Tomography in healthy subjects. Mean macular thickness (MMT) was analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA with three dependent regional MMT-variables for interaction with age, gender, parity and oral contraception use. Exploratory correlation with age by the Pearson correlation test, both before and after stratification by gender was performed. Differences in MMT between older and younger subjects, between oral contraception users and non-users, as well as parous and nulliparous women were studied by post-hoc Student's t-tests.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Central MMT in Norwegians was similar to values earlier reported in whites. MMT in central areas of 1 and 2.25 mm in diameter were higher in males than in females. In younger subjects (≤43 years) differences in MMT between genders were larger than in the mixed age group, whereas in older subjects (>43 years) the small differences did not reach the set significance level. No differences were found in minimal foveolar thickness (MMFT) between the genders in any age group.</p> <p>Mean foveal thickness (1 mm in diameter) was positively associated with age in females (r = 0.28, p = 0.03). MMFT was positively associated with age in all groups and reached significance both in females and in mixed gender group (r = 0.20, p = 0.041 and r = 0.26, p = 0.044 respectively).</p> <p>Mean foveal thickness and MMFT were significantly higher in parous than in nulliparous women, and age-adjusted ANOVA for MMFT revealed a borderline effect of parity.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Age and gender should be taken into consideration when establishing normal ranges for MMT in younger subjects. The gender difference in retinal thickness in young, but not older adults suggests a gonadal hormonal influence. The possible association between parity and retinal structure and its clinical relevance, should be studied further.</p

Tromsø fritidspark - Breiviknes. Konsekvensutredning, deltema zoologi

Jacobsen, K.-O. & Johnsen, T.V. 2007. Tromsø fritidspark- Breiviknes. Konsekvensutredning, deltema zoologi – NINA Rapport 299. 23 s. I forbindelse med Areal + AS sitt arbeid med reguleringsplan for Tromsø fritidspark, Breiviknes i Tromsø kommune, fikk NINA i oppdrag å utrede konsekvensene for terrestrisk fauna. Det er registrert 25 fuglearter og 7 pattedyrarter i planområdet, hvorav seks er rødlistearter. Området har sannsynligvis ingen viktig funksjon for rødlisteartene, og faunaen i planområdet vurderes å være av liten - middels verdi. Den terrestriske faunaen i Sandbukta naturreservat vurderes å være av middels verdi. Samlet vurderes verneverdiene i plan- og influensområdet til middels. Mange av de artene som man i dag finner i skogen og på myrene i planområdet, vil miste sine leveområder ved en utbygging av Breiviknes. En del vil imidlertid kunne holde til i de lommer av leveområder som vil være igjen. Det er sannsynlig med en markert økning i ferdsel i Sandvika naturreservat, noe som vil kunne medføre forstyrrelser overfor fuglelivet her. Den planlagte utbyggingen kommer imidlertid ikke i direkte konflikt med noen viktige lokaliteter for rødlistearter eller andre viktige zoologiske forekomster. Det er gitt forslag til avbøtende tiltak som vil kunne minske de negative konsekvensene noe. konsekvensanalyse, fauna, fugler, pattedyr, vilt, Breiviknes,Tromsø, Troms, impact assessment, fauna, birds, mammals, wildlife, Breiviknes, Tromsø, Troms Count