Culture Enhancement for Exergames for Individuals with Intellectual Disability

Background: Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) often face barriers when trying to engage in physical activity. Exergames, which combine physical exercise with gaming technology, have shown the potential to promote physical activity among this group of individuals. However, the suitability of exergames for individuals with ID from different cultural backgrounds has received limited attention. Objective: This project is aimed to investigate cultural aspects of exergames for individuals with ID. The main goals were to explore how cultural factors affect engagement and experience, pinpoint culturally suitable design elements, cre- ate guidelines for cultural sensitivity, and look at the effects of culture-enhanced exergames. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was used. This was a literature review, interviews with individuals with ID from a different cultural background than Norway, expert consultations, and an iterative design process. Results: The research showed a few cultural factors affecting the engagement and experience of individuals with ID in exergames, such as language prefer- ences and, specifically to one exergame, local waste sorting regularities. The evaluation of culture-enhanced exergames gave positive impacts on the users’ physical activity levels and overall well-being. Conclusions: The project examines the impact of cultural variety in the design of exergames for individuals with ID. By addressing these factors, exergames can be made more engaging and accessible to more users in the world

Fate of production in the Arctic seasonal ice zone. An investigation of suspended biomass, vertical export and the impact of grazers during the onset of the spring bloom north of Svalbard

In the Arctic Ocean, biological productivity is largely determined by sea ice, making the seasonal sea ice zone (SSIZ) its most productive region. The current study is a combined investigation of the suspended biomass, vertical export of organic material, and potential retention processes by zooplankton, during a crucial period of bloom development in the Eurasian SSIZ north of Svalbard, where few studies have previously been done. To evaluate the magnitude and composition of the bloom and subsequent vertical export, short-term sediment traps, at five depths between 30 and 200m, were deployed at eight sea ice stations. Daily patterns of chlorophyll a, particulate organic carbon (POC) and contribution of zooplankton fecal pellets (FP) were discovered in distinct assemblages – conditions ranging from pre- to mid-bloom development. Daily loss rates of POC increased from 0.6 to 2.7% as the bloom progressed from a pre- to mid-bloom phase, but the vertical carbon export rates in the shallower depths exceeded those in the deeper layers as the bloom developed accordingly. Phytoplankton carbon (PPC) was found to be a more important component to the vertical POC flux than FP carbon (FPC), especially as the bloom progressed. PPC and FPC contributed 5-75% and 0.5-24% to POC export respectively. The contribution of FPC flux to total POC flux was found to be in line with previous studies, revealing that the relative contribution FPC flux to vertical carbon export is variable but may diminish northward with the SSIZ. The impact of grazers was further investigated through FP production experiments of key Calanus species. The proportion of Calanus finmarchicus community-produced FPC exported to 40m decreased from 36% to 4% from early- to mid-bloom conditions, suggesting stronger zooplankton-mediated retention as the bloom intensifies. Additionally, under slower bloom development, grazers appeared to be effectively controlling and inhibiting the accumulation of biogenic biomass and subsequent vertical flux. The current study reveals that the northern ice-covered Barents Sea shelf break can provide comparable vertical export rates of organic material during the spring bloom to the productive and shallower central Barents Sea

“We’re Using Up the Earth. It’s Almost Gone ”Apocalyptic fiction, environmental awareness,and critique of anthropocentric and capitalist society in Margaret Atwood’ MaddAddam trilogy

Master`s thesis in English (EN501)This thesis explores Margaret Atwood’s novels Oryxand Crake (2003), The Year of the Flood (2009), and MaddAddam (2013),and their criticism of anthropocentric and capitalist society. The novels depicta world where the planet has reached its limits due to humanity’s overpopulation, greed, and exploitation of nature. This thesis analyzes the books with an ecocritical lens and views Atwood’s representation of the environment in her apocalyptic narrative. Through a close reading of the trilogy, the analysis considers the novels’apocalyptic characteristics in a world where a virus has annihilated the human population,and genetically engineered creatures are left in its wake to live in harmony with nature. Through these creatures’traits and the depictions of humanity before the apocalypse, Atwood shows how human interference with nature has led to the destruction of numerous plant and animal species, as well as ourselves. However, Atwood offers some hope through the creation of ‘the perfect humans’and the portrayal of a flourishing nature in the post-apocalyptic landscape

Implementing Washington\u27s ERA: Problems with Wholesale Legislative Revision

This article will attempt to illustrate the legislative choices available in implementing the equal rights amendment by evaluating the many revisions contained in Chapter 154 in terms of equal rights principles and the policies underlying the criminal, family and employment provisions it amends

Similitude Study of Airflow Characteristics and Evaluation of Ridge Vent Design for an Open Front Confinement Beef Barn

Predictions for the future indicate that beef cattle production will continue to increase. The U. S. Department of Agriculture has estimated that the demand for red meat would increase by over 60 per cent between 1958 and 1975. Beef consumption in the United States is 80 to 85 pounds per capita per year. However, some light meat, turkey and chicken will be substituted for red meat, but due to the continuing increase in human population, the production of beef will have to increase to meet the domestic need. Following the trend of the last few years, more beef cattle production is going to take place in feedlots. The feedlots will become larger and the production of beef on natural grassland will decrease partly due to the increased performance realized from using more concentrated rations as tests indicate that about 20 per cent less total feed ls needed to produce one pound of gain with a concentrate-roughage ratio of 5:1 (five times more concentrate than roughage), as compared to commonly used 6:4 rations. Better pollution control improved environmental conditions for livestock and farm laborers and optimization of labor will hasten the trend toward beef cattle produced in confinement buildings. With more beef cattle production taking place in confinement buildings, the optimum environmental conditions for maximum performance must be defined and design criteria established. Factors such as ambient temperature, relative humidity, wind velocity, precipitation, solar radiation, type of shelter, animal density and conditions of the environmental surfaces affect the thermal environment of the beef cattle. One of the most important factors to consider in trying to achieve maximum animal production in confinement buildings is proper ventilation. The ventilation system must supply adequate oxygen, remove toxic gases and water vapor and prevent condensation and frost accumulation ln the building. Several ways of ventilating open and semi-open beef barns are being employed, but there is limited information on systems which will operate efficiently and effectively under different climatic conditions. This study was undertaken to evaluate ventilation characteristics in open front beef confinement buildings. The objectives of this study were: 1. Evaluate the effects of ridge vent design on air flow characteristics in a model of an open front beef confinement building. 2. Determine the effect of ridge vent design on temperature in a model of an open front beef confinement building. l. Develop prediction equations for air flow using a model of an open front beef confinement building

The Gendering of a Farming System. A study of the relationship between gender and agricultural production in Ghana.

Gender issues have increasingly been given attention to in research on agriculture and farming systems. Prior to the 1970s, gender was rarely addressed, as economic activities and more technical descriptions were prioritized in farming system research. However, as the approach developed to emphasise a more holistic understanding of various production environments, gender was included. This thesis is based on a two-month long fieldwork in the area of Essiam and Denkyira in the Central Region in Ghana in 2017. The empirical data produced during the field work has been complimented by a theoretical framework including concepts such as farming system and sustainable livelihood approach, institutions and gender. The objective of this study has been to explore how gender is a factor influencing roles, responsibilities, rights and duties in the farming system in this particular study area. This is addressed through the research question: How does gender influence the agricultural production in farming households in Essiam and Denkyira? The study identifies the farming system of Essiam and Denkyira as a complex and diverse system consisting of several connected units that are influencing both each other and the agricultural production. The study points to a gender division of labour within the farming system, as men and women hold different roles and responsibilities due to perceived physical differences and socially constructed norms about appropriate behaviour; men performing specific ‘male tasks’ and women performing ‘female tasks’. A gender division of decision- making is also found: Women have the power to influence certain decisions in the household, but men are nonetheless in charge of most of the decisions regarding agricultural production. Both male and female farmers are found to have formal rights to access various important productive resources necessary for agricultural production, but women’s manoeuvring space for accessing these resources are found to be limited due to gender roles and norms about gender appropriate behaviour in the farming system. Female farmers are especially limited in the access to labour – a resource determining how much land (and other resources) they are able to obtain. As there are limitations in what tasks women can perform, female farmers are in need of mobilising labour that can assist them in the performance of agricultural tasks. The ability female farmers have to mobilise this labour is found to be depending on their economic capital and social capital in the form of male social relations that can assist them in the negotiation of access to such human resources.Masteroppgave i geografiGEO35

Assessing Consumer Preferences for Circularity in Mobile Phones: A Discrete Choice Experiment with Attribute Framing

Although much research has been done on the circular economy, only a few studies have utilized discrete choice experiments to estimate consumers’ preferences toward circularity in their purchase decisions. I employ a discrete choice experiment to measure Stavanger residents’ preferences for or against circularity when purchasing a mobile phone. I did not find a general preference for circularity in mobile phones. However, I found evidence that consumers are more inclined to choose circulated products when product circularity is highlighted. No preference was found for partially circulated phones over fully circulated ones. I did find evidence that attribute framing influences consumers’ purchase choices regarding circulated products

Can vessel values in dry bulk be predicted? A study on the relationship between government bond yields and vessel valuations

Seaborne freight of dry bulk commodities is an important gauge on the global economy. How dry bulk shipping markets move is dependent on demand and hence economic growth, further import and export volumes and commodity prices. The US and China are among the most active importers and exporters of dry bulk commodities globally, in addition to being good representatives of global economic growth. This paper investigates the interaction between dry bulk vessel valuations and economic growth with the purpose of establishing a leading indicator on vessel values, here represented by the 18-month change in US and Chinese 10- year government bond yields. The findings in this paper cast a fascinating light on the effects changes in government bond yields has on vessel values through cycles and vessel classes. The inverse relationship is stronger for the bigger vessels, albeit explaining less of the value fluctuations than its smaller peers, indicating the presence of additional influential factors. Hence, this paper provides a plethora of insight for decision-makers on whether to buy or sell dry bulk vessels within a 12-18 month time period.nhhma

Studietur til Aalborg i samarbeid med Aalborg Portland Group og Unicon

Denne rapporten gir et sammendrag av en studietur til Aalborg 19-20. juni 2007 i samarbeid med Aalborg Portland Group og Unicon. Besøket besto av omvisning på Aalborg Portlands sementfabrikk og forskningslaboratorier, samt flere befaringer for å se bruk av hvit sement produsert under Aalborg White. Besøket bidro til diskusjon rundt sementproduksjon, ny anleggssement og betongoverflater. I tillegg omhandlet besøket stillaskollapset 25. april 2006, og konsekvenser dette har gitt i ettertid