Telomere Correlations during Early Life in a Long Lived Seabird

Telomere dynamics in blood cells have been linked to aging in a variety of organisms. However, whether blood telomeres correlated with telomeres in other parts of the body is not well known, especially during early life when telomere loss is expected to be most rapid. We investigated this question in embryonic and juvenile Franklin?s gulls (Leucophaeus pipixcan). We measured telomere lengths in blood, heart, liver and skeletal muscle tissues at the end of embryonic (n = 31) and post-natal development (n=20). In late-stage embryos, blood telomeres were significantly positively correlated with heart and skeletal muscle, but not liver telomeres. However, at the end of post-natal development, there were no significant correlations among blood telomeres and telomeres in any other tissues. In late-stage embryos, heart telomeres were significantly longer than blood, liver, and skeletal muscle telomeres, but at the end of post-natal development telomere lengths did not significantly differ among tissues

Leading by Example – Or Greenlighting Greenwashing? A Comparative Study of Norway’s "Climate Image" in Brazil and in Indonesia

Norway has long been able to portray itself as a “climate frontrunner”, perhaps most notably through its efforts to reduce deforestation rates globally. Yet, the international context is changing, and there are indications that Norway´s carefully crafted reputation or climate image has begun to crack. This thesis explores Norway’s climate image, how it is affected by the relationship between Norway´s green ambitions and its fossil fuel dependency, and in turn, what this dual effect could mean for Norway in the context of a green transition. The thesis compares Norway´s self-image to its image in two key forest partner countries: Brazil and Indonesia. Through a combination of content analysis and semi-structured interviews with informants mainly from Norway, Brazil and Indonesia, it finds that Norway´s climate image is mixed in all three countries. Findings indicate that there is not much difference in perceptions of Norway´s climate image in Norway, Brazil and Indonesia; rather, the difference is between the official self-image in Norway and that of well-informed professionals. Despite recognition of Norway´s positive contributions to climate issues at the international level, a recurrent theme across all interviews was the perceived double standard and hypocrisy in how Norway pushes for more climate action abroad, yet undermines such efforts domestically by continuing to produce and export fossil fuels. The content analysis suggests a slightly more positive, but still mixed perspective. Furthermore, informants emphasized a broad range of potential implications for Norway by a continued “climate paradox”, including political and economic costs, risk of social instability and polarization, and not least climate risks. Such risks are expected to grow in strength over time, as hopes of reaching stated climate objectives such as the 1.5 ̊ C target in the Paris Agreement decrease. Overall, results show that the image is changing, and that Norway should consider the changing international context going forward

Confidence building measures as soft power? : a contribution to the study of international cybersecurity

Masteroppgave i samfunnskommunikasjon- Universitetet i Agder 2013The topic of this thesis is“CBMs and international cooperation within cybersecurity”. The central research question it examines is: How can the use of CBMs in diplomacy enhance international cooperation within cybersecurity? In order to investigate this issue, I decided to conduct a number of in-depth interviews with experts within this field; these two groups of experts primarily consist of diplomats and researchers. Myfindings can be divided in two parts; the first concerns consequences of the emergence of the network society for diplomacy; the second part regards possibilities and limits of CBMs within international cybersecurity.Issues related to transparency, terminology and imageconstitute the core of these findings. The studydemonstrates that communication is a fundamental part of confidence building. Whileagreeing on specificmultilateral CBMs within cybersecurity appears to be a difficult task at this early stage of international discussions, efforts at reaching agreement on cyber CBMs can be a type of CBM in itself.CBMs createmutualunderstanding, build relations and ultimately reduce the risk of misunderstanding and misperceptions which could lead to wrong decisions and the escalation of conflicts.Soft power represents a useful way to approach these issues as soft power and CBMs can be mutually reinforcing

Damming Paradise: Public Power, Free Enterprise, and Tribal Sovereignty in the Mountain West in the Twentieth Century

“Damming Paradise” examines the transformation of the political economy of the Mountain West through the development of hydropower over the course of the twentieth century. Beginning with early attempts to regulate electricity marketing and dam construction, this thesis traces the development of a conservation paradigm which insisted upon full development of water resources and public ownership of hydropower facilities. The author then follows that development through the New Deal and Post War eras, focusing particular attention on the Kerr Dam (now Seli’š Ksanka Qlispe’ Dam) and Hungry Horse Dam on Montana’s Flathead River. “Damming Paradise” then examines the attempt to expand public power marketing through river valley authorities in 1944-50, demonstrating how a coalition of business interests and preservationists defeated those proposals and sowed doubt about the economic and ecological costs of federal hydropower. Finally, this thesis hones in on competing plans for damming the Lower Flathead River in the 1950s and 1960s. Throughout the thesis, the author examines the actions of various members of the Confederated Tribes of the Flathead Reservation and the development of tribal sovereignty over natural resource management in response to the threat of termination

Leading by Example – Or Greenlighting Greenwashing? A Comparative Study of Norway’s "Climate Image" in Brazil and in Indonesia

Norway has long been able to portray itself as a “climate frontrunner”, perhaps most notably through its efforts to reduce deforestation rates globally. Yet, the international context is changing, and there are indications that Norway´s carefully crafted reputation or climate image has begun to crack. This thesis explores Norway’s climate image, how it is affected by the relationship between Norway´s green ambitions and its fossil fuel dependency, and in turn, what this dual effect could mean for Norway in the context of a green transition. The thesis compares Norway´s self-image to its image in two key forest partner countries: Brazil and Indonesia. Through a combination of content analysis and semi-structured interviews with informants mainly from Norway, Brazil and Indonesia, it finds that Norway´s climate image is mixed in all three countries. Findings indicate that there is not much difference in perceptions of Norway´s climate image in Norway, Brazil and Indonesia; rather, the difference is between the official self-image in Norway and that of well-informed professionals. Despite recognition of Norway´s positive contributions to climate issues at the international level, a recurrent theme across all interviews was the perceived double standard and hypocrisy in how Norway pushes for more climate action abroad, yet undermines such efforts domestically by continuing to produce and export fossil fuels. The content analysis suggests a slightly more positive, but still mixed perspective. Furthermore, informants emphasized a broad range of potential implications for Norway by a continued “climate paradox”, including political and economic costs, risk of social instability and polarization, and not least climate risks. Such risks are expected to grow in strength over time, as hopes of reaching stated climate objectives such as the 1.5 ̊ C target in the Paris Agreement decrease. Overall, results show that the image is changing, and that Norway should consider the changing international context going forward

Qualitative measurements of pressure-atomized sprays through simultaneous collection of planar fluorescence, phosphorescence, and Mie scattering data

A laser diagnostic technique useful for qualitatively locating and describing regions of vapor and liquid structures of a pressure atomized fuel spray is examined. While Mie scattering is sensitive to the liquid phase within a spray, planar laser-induced fluorescence is sensitive to both the liquid and vapor phases. Hence, a comparison of images utilizing these two techniques could be used to qualitatively distinguish regions of vapor from regions dominated by droplets. Quantitative subtraction of the two signals is subject to significant error in polydisperse sprays, however, due to the fact that scattering is sensitive to droplet surface area (diameter squared) while fluorescence is sensitive to droplet volume (diameter cubed). Moreover, even qualitative comparison of the two signals may yield false identification of fuel vapor because of possible differences in signal behavior within dense regions of the spray. By simultaneously capturing phosphorescence in addition to fluorescence and Mie scattering, it is possible to gain further insight because phosphorescence is proportional to droplet volume, like fluorescence, but is sensitive only to droplets, like Mie scattering. Hence, phosphorescence can be used to determine whether differences between fluorescence and Mie scattering signals are due to the presence of fuel vapor or due simply to the different photophysics between the two techniques. The current work shows the utility of using phosphorescence for added information and advances the state of the art by (1) testing the use of fluorescence, phosphorescence, and Mie scattering (FPM) in a dense spray, (2) testing FPM in a multi-component fuel, (3) implementing FPM in a practical device, and (4) conducting tests with FPM under elevated temperatures. Signal collection techniques and data conditioning methods are presented and discussed for both laboratory and test cell applications. Results show that the measurement of fuel vapor from differences in fluorescence and Mie scattering data can be misleading due to variations in multiple scattering with these two techniques. By adding phosphorescence, it is possible to show that regions that appear to consist of fuel vapor from fluorescence are more likely attributable to diffuse scattering from a dense field of droplets within the spray. This is an important result that shows the significance of simultaneous collection of FPM signals in practical fuel sprays. Suggestions to improve and advance the technique are also presented

Assessment of bridge lifetime in fatigue against abnormal loads. Case of Normandy bridge

Some ageing bridges exposed to heavy traffic loads or abnormal loads may have critical details, either against extreme loads or in fatigue. Old bridges were designed with design codes and load models which are now exceeded by the authorized vehicle loads. Therefore, keeping the bridge safety and reliability at an acceptable level requires periodical reassessments of some structural parts, using updated traffic data, e.g. weigh-in-motion (WIM) data. For extreme loads and current ultimate limit states, extrapolated maximum axle, vehicle or total loads, depending on the considered effect and influence line length, are used to assess the maximum load effects which may be exceeded with a given probability. They are compared to the design loads affected of the partial safety factors. For fatigue limit state and lifetime assessment, the updated traffic loads, if available, or some estimation based on similar traffic flow, are used to calculate expected lifetime with the Miner's law and fatigue resistance (S-N) curves. These lifetimes are compared to the required ones, taking into account the elapsed bridge lifetime. In several country, like in France, abnormal loads regulation was made more flexible in order to avoid long administrative delay to get the permits, and up to some gross vehicle weight limits, the permit can be obtained very easily and quickly on-line through Internet. Some routes are allowed to different classes (1 to 3 in France) of abnormal loads, up to 120 t. Before labelling a route for a given class, all the sensitive bridges should be checked. In 2017, the prefect of Normandy asked to open the bridge of Normandy to the class 3 abnormal loads (120 t). The bridge concessionaire and the Ministry of Transport appointed IFSTTAR and a consulting company (Quadric) to perform some assessment of the impact of these abnormal loads on the bridge orthotropic deck lifetime in fatigue. The paper will present some of the sensitive bridges and details, a quick review of abnormal loads or load models, the trend of heavy vehicle weight limits in the EU, and then the impact of these loads on existing bridges. A special focus will be done on the study carried out for the fatigue of Normandy bridge under current and abnormal traffic loads, and how the abnormal loads can reduce the bridge lifetime. These results are useful for the decision makers to take the final decision on abnormal load authorization

ICWIM8 - 8th Conference on Weigh-in-Motion - Book of proceedings

ICWIM8, 8th International Conference on Weigh-in-Motion, PRAGUE, TCHÈQUE, RÉPUBLIQUE, 20-/05/2019 - 24/05/2019The conference addresses the broad range of topics related to on-road and in-vehicle WIM technology, its research, installation and operation and use of mass data across variable end-uses. Innovative technologies and experiences of WIM system implementation are presented. Application of WIM data to infrastructure, mainly bridges and pavements, is among the main topics. However, the most demanding application is now WIM for enforcement, and the greatest challenge is WIM for direct enforcement. Most of the countries and road authorities should ensure a full compliance of heavy vehicle weights and dimensions with the current regulations. Another challenging objective is to extend the lifetimes of existing road assets, despite of increasing heavy vehicle loads and flow, and without compromising with the structural safety. Fair competition and road charging also require accurately monitoring commercial vehicle weights by WIM. WIM contributes to a global ITS (Intelligent Transport System) providing useful data on heavy good vehicles to implement Performance Based Standards (PBS) and Intelligent Access Programme (IAP, Australia) or Smart Infrastructure Access Programme (SIAP). The conference reports the latest research and developments since the last conference in 2016, from all around the World. More than 150 delegates from 33 countries and all continents are attending ICWIM8, mixing academics, end users, decision makers and WIM vendors. An industrial exhibition is organized jointly with the conference