Power System Under Free Market Conditions

U posljednjih 20 godina vidljiva je sve veća uloga otvorenog tržišta električne energije, jednako kao i u drugim sektorima. Savršeno konkurentno energetsko tržište efikasno je, ali ga je teško postići.Treba uzeti u obzir posebna svojstva električne energije. U ovom je članku pokazano kako se tradicionalni optimalni tok snage - Optimal Power Flow (OPF) može proširiti tako da uključuje i potražnju, održavajući pritom ravnotežu ponude i potražnje na otvorenom tržištu. Također, OPF se može koristiti za proračun cijena u čvorištima koje predstavljaju optimalne cijene prijenosa. Planiranje proizvodnje može, ovisno o tipu tržišta, biti provedeno kroz centralnu optimizaciju ili decentralizirano za svaku proizvodnu tvrtku. Za svaku se pojedinu tvrtku kriterij planiranja mijenja od minimiziranja troška do maksimiziranja profita. Sada su dostupna praktična iskustva s raznih strana svijeta. Jasno se pokazuje da je moguće realizirati tržište električne energije u uvjetima otvorenog tržišta. Realizirana su različita rješenja u vezi s vlasništvom i tipom tržišta. Međutim, iskustvo je šaroliko i važno je da se ubuduće izvuku pouke iz naučenih lekcija.During the past 20 years, we have seen an expanding role for the free market in the electricity sector as well as other sectors. A perfectly competitive power market is efficient but difficult to achieve. The special features of electricity should be taken into account. In this paper, it is shown how traditional Optimal Power Flow (OPF) can be extended to include the demand side, thereby reflecting the supply-demand balance of an open market. The OPF technique can be used for the calculation of a set of nodal prices representing the optimal price at each node in the grid, from which we can derive a set of optimal transmission prices. Depending on the market design, generation planning can be performed by central optimization or in a decentralized manner by each generation company. For an individual generating company, the planning criterion will change from cost minimization to profit maximization. Practical experiences are now available from various parts of the world. It is clearly demonstrated that a power market can be operated under free market conditions. Various solutions concerning ownership and market design have been implemented. However, experiences have been mixed. In the future, it will be important to draw upon the lessons that have been learned

National standards in local setting. Implementing electronic nursing and care messages at the University Hospital of North Norway

This thesis is an interpretive study examining national electronic Nursing and Care Messages (NUC messages) implemented into a local setting. From the outset the messages were created to support and enhance efficiency and quality for cross level communication when exchanging health information related to shared care. The study focuses on theory of standards and standardization as the NUC messages is to be perceived as a standard. Analytic tools from Actor Network Theory are used to examine the process of how the messages were created. This contributes to an in-depth understanding of the end-users experiences after implementation of NUC messages at the local setting, which is the University Hospital of North Norway. Findings are that even though the electronic messages enables a time efficient way of communication, the message standard still have features that negatively impacts the use of them. The NUC messages seem to have a weak inscription that makes the standard flexible and enables alternative use. Additionally, this flexibility implies that compliance to the standard is challenged. Despite various efforts from local actors in the national test and piloting phase, alternative and local translations of the standard have not been possible to negotiate after the messages were designed. The standard of NUC messages seem to have reached the state of irreversibility instantly when designed. The study examines how the standard of NUC messages regarding their naming, in-messages structures and messages pathway creates a tension when adopted into local practice with alternative requirements of communication in cross level care

Mock samples resolve biases in diversity estimates and quantitative interpretation of zooplankton metabarcoding data

Metabarcoding is a rapidly developing tool in marine zooplankton ecology, although most zooplankton surveys continue to rely on visual identification for monitoring purposes. We attempted to resolve some of the biases associated with metabarcoding by sequencing a 313-b.p. fragment of the COI gene in 34 “mock” samples from the North Sea which were pre-sorted to species level, with biomass and abundance estimates obtained for each species and taxonomic group. The samples were preserved either in 97% ethanol or dehydrated for 24 h in a drying oven at 65 °C (the routine way of preserving samples for dry weight measurements). The visual identification yielded a total of 59 unique holoplanktonic and 16 meroplanktonic species/taxa. Metabarcoding identified 86 holoplanktonic and 124 meroplanktonic species/taxa, which included all but 3 of the species identified visually as well as numerous species of hard-to-identify crustaceans, hydrozoan jellyfish, and larvae of benthic animals. On a sample-to-sample basis, typically 90–95% of visually registered species were recovered, but the number of false positives was also high. We demonstrate robust correlations of relative sequence abundances to relative biomass for most taxonomic groups and develop conversion factors for different taxa to account for sequencing biases. We then combine the adjusted sequencing data with a single bulk biomass measurement for the entire sample to produce a quantitative parameter akin to species biomass. When examined with multivariate statistics, this parameter, which we call BWSR (biomass-weighed sequence reads) showed very similar trends to species biomass and comparable patterns to species abundance, highlighting the potential of metabarcoding not only for biodiversity estimation and mapping of presence/absence of species but also for quantitative assessment of zooplankton communities.publishedVersio

Oral administration of polyphenolic compounds from cognac decreases ADP-induced platelet aggregation and reduces chronotropic effect of isoprenaline in rats

This study sought to evaluate whether consumption of polyphenol extract from Cognac (CPC) modulates platelet activation and cardiovascular reactivity in rats. Male Wistar rats were treated daily for 4 weeks by intra-gastric gavage receiving CPC at 80 mg/kg/day or vehicle (5 % glucose). Platelet adhesion and aggregation in response to different activators were assessed. Cardiac and vascular reactivity in response to various agonists as well as NO measurement by electron paramagnetic resonance technique were investigated in isolated heart and thoracic aorta. Oral administration of CPC decreased platelet aggregation induced by ADP but not by collagen. CPC did not affect adhesion to collagen. The chronotropic but not the inotropic response to isoprenaline was reduced without alteration of NO production in hearts from CPC-treated rats. CPC treatment did not affect ex vivo relaxation to acetylcholine nor NO content of rat aorta. CPC did not significantly alter the response to phenylephrine in aorta despite the participation of endothelial vasoconstrictor products. In summary, chronic treatment with CPC has no impact on ex vivo vascular and cardiac reactivity; however, it reduced heart work and platelet aggregation. These data suggest the existence of compounds in Cognac that may decrease the risk of coronary thrombosis and protect against some cardiac diseases

Når stigma og skam står i veien for at barn som har foreldre med rusmiddelavhengighet får beskyttelse og meningsskapende samtaler. En kvalitativ studie

De publiserte artiklene har blitt fjernet fra den digitale versjonen, på grunn av manglende tillatelser fra tidsskrift. Se de aktuelle tidsskriftene eller den trykte avhandlingen for å lese artiklene. / The published articles have been removed from the digital thesis due to copyright restrictions. They can be read in their journals or in the printed thesis.Foreldres rusmiddelavhengighet rammer barna hardt, uavhengig av type rusmiddel, sosioøkonomisk bakgrunn og bosted. Det mange av barna har til felles er opplevelsen av redsel, skam og svik, men også av kjærlighet og nærhet til sine foreldre. Hensikten med denne studien var å få økt forståelse for barns opplevelser og behov når foreldre har rusmiddelavhengighet. Overordnet problemstilling er: Hvordan opplever barn og unge sin oppvekst med foreldre med rusmiddelavhengighet, og hvordan får de hjelp til å skape mening knyttet til sine barndomserfaringer? Datamaterialet består av kvalitative intervjuer med 12 ungdommer/unge voksne som har foreldre med rusmiddelavhengighet, og 7 foreldre/pasienter og 18 barneansvarlige i rusbehandling. Avhandlingen bygger på sosialkonstruksjonistiske og systemiske perspektiver. Det er benyttet to analytiske tilnærminger: fortolkende fenomenologisk analyse (IPA), og paradigmatisk analyse av narrativer. Analysen av datamaterialet resulterte i tre overordnede funn: 1. Stigma og skam nyttet til foreldres rusmiddelavhengighet oppleves som en ekstra belastning for barna. 2. Relasjonen mellom barn og foreldre er viktig, også når de ikke bor sammen. Barn har behov for beskyttelse mot foreldres rusmiddelbruk, men ikke nødvendigvis mot foreldrene. 3. Barn og unge har behov for, men mangler muligheter til å skape sammenheng og mening gjennom samtaler med voksne. Funnene er diskutert gjennom å se til tidligere forskning, samt en systemisk tilnærming med teorier og diskurser knyttet til familieliv, foreldreskap, barns oppvekst, rusmiddelavhengighet, stigma og meningsskapende samtaler. Studien konkluderer med at stigma og skam knyttet til foreldreskap og rusmiddelavhengighet kan stå i veien for at barna får nødvendig beskyttelse, kontinuitet i viktige relasjoner og meningsskapende samtaler med trygge voksne. Utvikling av nye diskurser og handlingsalternativer knyttet til forståelsen av foreldreskap og rusmiddelavhengighet, kan bidra til å gi barna og familiene bedre tverrfaglig hjelp og støtte.Abstract: Parental substance use disorder (SUD) strongly affects children, regardless of the type of substance, socioeconomic background and place of residence. What many of the children of parents with SUD have in common is their experience of fear, shame, and betrayal, but they also love and feel a closeness to their parents. The purpose of this study was to gain broader knowledge and understanding of children's experiences and needs when parents have a SUD. This topic was explored through the main research question: How do children and adolescents perceive their childhood with parents with substance use disorder, and what support is provided to help them to create meaning related to childhood experiences? The data consist of qualitative interviews with 12 adolescents/young adults who have parents with SUD, 7 parents/patients, and 18 therapists responsible for working with children and families in SUD treatment. The thesis is based on social construction and systemic perspectives. Two analytical approaches have been used: interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) and paradigmatic analysis of narratives. The analysis of the data resulted in three main findings: 1. Stigma and shame related to parental SUD are perceived as an extra burden for the children. 2. The relationship between children and parents is essential, even when they are not living together. The child needs protection against substance use but not necessarily against the parents. 3. Children and young people are in need of, but lack opportunities to create coherence and meaning through conversations with adults. These findings are discussed by looking at previous research, as well as a systemic approach with theories and discourses on family life, parenthood, childhood, SUD, stigma, shame, and meaningful conversations. The study suggests that stigma and shame related to parental SUD may interfere with the child being provided the necessary protection, continuity in significant relationships, and meaningful conversations with trusted adults. Development of new discourses and alternative actions in relation to the understanding of parenthood and SUD, may contribute towards providing children and families with sufficient interdisciplinary help and support

How Does Nursing Staff Perceive the Use of Electronic Handover Reports? A Questionnaire-Based Study

Following the implementation of electronic nursing records in a psychogeriatric ward, we examined nursing staff's attitudes and perceptions to the implementation of an electronic handover routine. A web-based anonymous and secure questionnaire was distributed by e-mail to all nursing staff at a psychogeriatric ward at a university hospital. Most respondents were satisfied with the electronic handover, and they believed they managed to keep informed by the new routine. The simultaneous introduction of a morning meeting, to ensure a forum for oral professional discussion, was a success. A minority of staff did not fully trust the information conveyed in the electronic handover, and a significant proportion expressed a need for guidance in using the system. Staff that had a high level of trust in written reports believed these saved time, had little trouble finding time and a place to read the reports, and were more positive to the new handover routine

Et arkiv over forandringer i moderne norsk ordforråd og dets betydning for norsk leksikografi

Since 1968 a project for registrating lexical changes in Norwegian has been going on at the Section of Lexicography, University of Oslo. The number of excerpts is now about half a million, covering new words, new meanings of words, new phraseology and various characteristic lexical features in modem Norwegian. The greatest part of the material is computerized, and each excerpt is provided with a code which gives information about word class, gender and various lexical and syntactic features. The topic of this paper is furthermore what the material has been used for, particularly its importance for dictionary making in Norway the last 20 years, and finally how useful material of this kind is in dictionary making

The interplay between global standards and local practice in nursing

Submitted manuscript version. Published version available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2013.02.005.Purpose: The paper assesses the extent, form, and transformation of global nursing classifications (NANDA) in a nursing practice during a period of 5 years. Method: A longitudinal case study was used to trace implementation, adoption and use of nursing classifications as an integral part of an electronic nursing module. A mixed method of data collection was used, including semi-structured interviews, observation and document analysis. Results: A surprisingly high proportion of nursing diagnoses was consistent with the global standard, in spite of a gradual increase of user-generated concepts. This is elaborated more thoroughly through a co-constructing perspective, emphasizing how the global standard and the practice mutually shaped each other over several years. Conclusion: Standardization is an iterative process that is performed in close relationship with practice. The mutual interrelation between formal classifications (NANDA) and local practices are co-constructed in a dynamic interplay that evolves over time. In such a process, the use of local classifications and local strategies can be a means to bridge the gap between these two extreme points. Highlights: ► Extensive use of standardized classification after implementation of electronic care plan. ► Local classifications evolved during long-term use. ► Co-construction of classifications was used to bridge the gap between global classifications and local needs

The role of morphological evolution and prey specialization in adaptive radiations: The spider genus Dysdera in the Canary Islands

Non peer reviewe

To denoise or to cluster? That is not the question. Optimizing pipelines for COI metabarcoding and metaphylogeography

Background: The recent blooming of metabarcoding applications to biodiversity studies comes with some relevant methodological debates. One such issue concerns the treatment of reads by denoising or by clustering methods, which have been wrongly presented as alternatives. It has also been suggested that denoised sequence variants should replace clusters as the basic unit of metabarcoding analyses, missing the fact that sequence clusters are a proxy for species-level entities, the basic unit in biodiversity studies. We argue here that methods developed and tested for ribosomal markers have been uncritically applied to highly variable markers such as cytochrome oxidase I (COI) without conceptual or operational (e.g., parameter setting) adjustment. COI has a naturally high intraspecies variability that should be assessed and reported, as it is a source of highly valuable information. We contend that denoising and clustering are not alternatives. Rather, they are complementary and both should be used together in COI metabarcoding pipelines. Results: Using a COI dataset from benthic marine communities, we compared two denoising procedures (based on the UNOISE3 and the DADA2 algorithms), set suitable parameters for denoising and clustering, and applied these steps in diferent orders. Our results indicated that the UNOISE3 algorithm preserved a higher intra-cluster variability. We introduce the program DnoisE to implement the UNOISE3 algorithm taking into account the natural variability (measured as entropy) of each codon position in protein-coding genes. This correction increased the number of sequences retained by 88%. The order of the steps (denoising and clustering) had little infuence on the fnal outcome. Conclusions: We highlight the need for combining denoising and clustering, with adequate choice of stringency parameters, in COI metabarcoding. We present a program that uses the coding properties of this marker to improve the denoising step. We recommend researchers to report their results in terms of both denoised sequences (a proxy for haplotypes) and clusters formed (a proxy for species), and to avoid collapsing the sequences of the latter into a single representative. This will allow studies at the cluster (ideally equating species-level diversity) and at the intra-cluster level, and will ease additivity and comparability between studies