Effects of multiple mating and male harassment on female fecundity and longevity in the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus.

Polyandry is a common mating system in many species, however females may experience considerable costs related to multiple mating including male harassment, energy use and in some cases physical damage. Male harassment of females may occur when there is sexual conflict related to mate choice or mating frequency. Females may, however, benefit from polyandry either indirectly by having more genetically viable offspring, or by increasing the genetic diversity among offspring. She may also gain direct benefits when the males provide resources, e.g. in the form of nuptial gifts like spermatophores, containing nutrients and water. These costs and benefits create a trade-off in multiple matings, with the optimum number of matings often differing between males and females. In the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus, males invest resources in spermatophores benefiting females, but females also might experience costs due to mating harassment and direct harm during copulations. By manipulating the female’s exposure to males, either by varying the sex ratio or the period of time exposed, we test the effect of multiple mating on female longevity and fecundity. Female life span and fecundity (number of eggs laid) were higher in the group that was exposed to males for a short-term compared to females permanently exposed to males. For the permanently exposed females, life span decreased with the number of males, but there was no such effect on fecundity (eggs laid). These results indicate that there is both benefits and costs related to multiple mating. Females in the group with permanent exposure seemed to pass a threshold where the costs of male harassment outweighed the benefits of multiple mating resulting in a negative effect on longevity.Masteroppgave i biologiBIO399KMAMN-BI

Beyond budgeting in Statoil : ownership towards ambition to action

Beyond Budgeting is the concept of moving away from the traditional budget, and ownership is crucial when going beyond the budget. According to Pierce, Kostova and Dirks (2001, 2003), psychological ownership is when an individual feels psychologically tied to something. This thesis aims to enrich the ownership literature, and factors influencing psychological ownership towards Statoil’s performance management process, Ambition to Action, have been hypothesized. Ambition to Action involves strategic objectives, KPIs, actions and individual goals. Statistical findings indicate that the feeling of ownership towards KPIs tends to be weaker than the feeling of ownership towards actions, strategic objectives and individual goals. Furthermore, time is an issue when working on Ambition to Action. The hypotheses that were statistically supported in this thesis are related to the number of sub-­‐units, trust and information sharing. Hypotheses related to dependency and number of employees do not get support, and are therefore rejected

Multikulturell rugekasse. Fremskrittspartiets argumentasjon om innvandring før valg 1987-2001

Avhandlingen tar utgangspunkt avistekster fra Aftenposten, Verdens Gang og Stavanger Aftenblad, samt bøker om Fremskrittspartiets historie for å se på sammenhengen mellom Fremskrittspartiets indre konflikter og partiets argumentasjon om innvandring før valg mellom 1987-2001. Den historiske gjennomgangen viser sammenheng mellom konflikter og partiets argumentasjon om innvandring i avisene. Særskilt to konflikter skiller seg ut. Første konflikt ender med Dolkesjø-oppgjøret i 1994, hvor den liberalistiske medlemsmassen i partiet ble sterkt redusert. Den andre går fra Godlia-møtet frem til perioden rundt millenniumskiftet, hvor de upopulære innvandringskritikerne ble kastet ut eller fikk en redusert rolle i partiet. Argumentene til Fremskrittspartiet viser også at partiets representanter ikke utelukkende bruker retorisk argumentasjon om hva som bør gjøres, men også adresserer nåværende verdier, samt hva som har vært. Dette er ikke uvanlig i seg selv, analysen viser der i mot at dette skjer ofte. Samtidig knytter argumentasjonen til Fremskrittspartiet seg til en streng forståelse av statsborgerskap, noe som blir tydeliggjort i argumentasjonen. Fremskrittspartiet bruker tidvis bevisst strategi om stillhet i innvandringsdebatten, for eksempel under innvandringsdebatten i 1991. Implikasjonene for debatten er blant annet underinformering av innvandringsteamet. Her vises det til et eksempel i klartekst som viser svarunnvikelse av spørsmål fra partiet i perioden.Masteroppgave i medievitenskapMEVI350MASV-MEV

Body mass index, waist circumference and pre-frailty/frailty: the Tromsø study 1994−2016

Objective This study investigated the association between obesity, assessed using body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), and pre-frailty/frailty among older adults over 21 years of follow-up. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Population-based study among communitydwelling adults in Tromsø municipality, Norway. Participants 2340women and 2169 men aged ≥45 years attending the Tromsø study in 1994–1995 (Tromsø4) and 2015–2016 (Tromsø7), with additional BMI and WC measurements in 2001 (Tromsø5) and 2007–2008 (Tromsø6). Primary outcome measure Physical frailty was defined as the presence of three or more and pre-frailty as the presence of one to two of the five frailty components suggested by Fried et al: low grip strength, slow walking speed, exhaustion, unintentional weight loss and low physical activity. Results Participants with baseline obesity (adjusted OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.93 to 3.02), assessed by BMI, were more likely to be pre-frail/frail than those with normal BMI. Participants with high (OR 2.14, 95%CI 1.59 to 2.87) or moderately high (OR 1.57, 95%CI 1.21 to 2.03) baseline WC were more likely to be pre-frail/frail than those with normal WC. Those at baseline with normal BMI but moderately high/high WC or overweight with normal WC had no significantly increased odds for pre-frailty/frailty. However, those with both obesity and moderately high/ high WC had increased odds of pre-frailty/frailty. Higher odds of pre-frailty/frailty were observed among those in ‘overweight to obesity’ or ‘increasing obesity’ trajectories than those with stable normal BMI. Compared with participants in a stable normal WC trajectory, those with high WC throughout follow-up were more likely to be prefrail/frail. Conclusion Both general and abdominal obesity, especially over time during adulthood, is associated with an increased risk of pre-frailty/frailty in later years. Thus maintaining normal BMI and WC throughout adult life is important

Nutrition literacy hos 10. klasseelever i en østlandskommune

Sammendrag: I dagens samfunn blir ungdommer hyppig eksponert for kostholdsinformasjon via ulike medier. Det blir dermed viktig for dem å kunne forstå og kritisk evaluere denne form for informasjon. Formålet med masterstudien var å kartlegge 10. klasseelevers (N=328) nutrition literacy, reflektert som deres kunnskaper og ferdigheter gitt dem gjennom grunnskolefaget Mat og helse. Nutrition literacy deles inn i tre hierarkiske nivåer; laveste nivå kalles functional nutrition literacy (FNL), som forutsetter grunnleggende lese- og skriveferdigheter som er nødvendig for å forstå og anvende kostholdsinformasjon. Neste nivå kalles interactive nutrition literacy (INL), som innebærer evne til å skaffe seg og kommunisere kostholdsinformasjon med kompetente fagpersoner, samt å ha adekvat kostholdsfremmende adferd. Øverste nivå er critical nutrition literacy (CNL), hvilket dreier seg om å kunne kritisk evaluere kostholdsinformasjon, hovedsakelig på et vitenskapelig grunnlag, og dessuten engasjere seg kritisk i ernæringsspørsmål i samfunnet, både lokalt og internasjonalt. For måling av elevenes nutrition literacy ble det brukt et spørreskjema som bestod av en selvutviklet kunnskapstest, demografiske variabler og Likertskalerte (fra 1 = helt uenig til 5 = helt enig) holdningsutsagn. Eksplorerende faktoranalyse og reliabilitetsanalyse (måling av coefficient Cronbach alpha) ble benyttet til å etablere mest mulig solide konstrukter. Multippel regresjonsanalyse ble brukt for å undersøke hvilke uavhengige variabler som kunne signifikant (p<0,05) bidra til å forklare oppnådd varians (R²) i de avhengige variablene (de tre nutrition literacy-reflekterende konstruktene). Det utviklet seg tre konstrukter FNL, INL og CNL. Elevenes gjennomsnittsscore var høyest på FNL-konstruktet, men en god del lavere på CNL og INL. Signifikante prediktorer for oppnådd 12 % varians i FNL var Fysisk aktivitet (β = 0,170), for INL var prediktorene Hvor ofte søkes kostholdsinformasjon (β = 0,186), Treningssenter (β = 0,150), Ukeblader (β = 0,144), Benytter ikke kostholdsinformasjon (β = -0,138), TV-program (β = 0,136),, Lege (β = 0,097), mens for CNL var prediktorene Treningssenter ( β = 0,181), Benytter ikke kostholdsinformasjon (β =- 0,147), Kjønn (β = 0,123), TV-program (β = 0,122), og Inntak av frukt/bær (β = 0,111). De undersøkte elevene viste dessuten middels gode kunnskaper om ernæring, målt ved kunnskapstesten. Studiens resultater antyder at lærere i skolefaget Mat og helse bør legge mer vekt på undervisning i ernæringslære, samt gi elevene trening i å kunne kritisk vurdere kostholdsinformasjon i mediaMaster i samfunnsernærin

Subsite-Specific Dietary Risk Factors for Colorectal Cancer: A Review of Cohort Studies

Objective. A shift in the total incidence from left- to right-sided colon cancer has been reported and raises the question as to whether lifestyle risk factors are responsible for the changing subsite distribution of colon cancer. The present study provides a review of the subsite-specific risk estimates for the dietary components presently regarded as convincing or probable risk factors for colorectal cancer: red meat, processed meat, fiber, garlic, milk, calcium, and alcohol. Methods. Studies were identified by searching PubMed through October 8, 2012 and by reviewing reference lists. Thirty-two prospective cohort studies are included, and the estimates are compared by sex for each risk factor. Results. For alcohol, there seems to be a stronger association with rectal cancer than with colon cancer, and for meat a somewhat stronger association with distal colon and rectal cancer, relative to proximal colon cancer. For fiber, milk, and calcium, there were only minor differences in relative risk across subsites. No statement could be given regarding garlic. Overall, many of the subsite-specific risk estimates were nonsignificant, irrespective of exposure. Conclusion. For some dietary components the associations with risk of cancer of the rectum and distal colon appear stronger than for proximal colon, but not for all

Normal and unusual days for dietary intake during the 12 months after a breast cancer diagnosis in women

Purpose There are several reasons to report days as being unusual with regard to dietary intake, including special occasions and celebrations. For breast cancer patients during the 12 month post-surgery period, unusual days may also include days that are afected by being a cancer patient. The aim of this study was to study dietary intake on “normal” and “unusual” days, and to study what is reported in “free text felds” of a food diary. Methods Women (n=456), mean age 55.5 years newly diagnosed with invasive breast cancer (stage I/II) were included in this clinical study. “Normal” and “unusual” days in general, over time and during the week and weekends were studied using repeated administration of a 7-day pre-coded food diary. Results The breast cancer patients reported 26% of all days as unusual. The intake of energy, most nutrients, especially alcohol and sugar, red and processed meat, and sweets, cakes, and snacks was 5–126% higher, whereas intake of fber, fruit and berries, vegetables, and dairy products was 7–17% lower on unusual than on normal days (P<0.001). The same pattern was seen for normal/unusual days during the weekdays, weekends and over time. Finally, 99% of the breast cancer patients used the free text felds to report additional intake with a mean energy of 1.1 MJ/day. Conclusion For breast cancer patients during the 12-month post-surgery period, unusual days are important drivers of total intake, especially for alcohol. The free text felds in the pre-coded food diary contributed substantially to the total intake

Fish intake and pre-frailty in Norwegian older adults - a prospective cohort study: the Tromsø Study 1994–2016

Background Pre-frailty is an intermediate, potentially reversible state before the onset of frailty. Healthy dietary choices may prevent pre-frailty. Fish is included in most healthy diets, but little is known about the association between long-term habitual fish intake and pre-frailty. We aimed to elucidate the longitudinal association between the frequency of fish intake and pre-frailty in a cohort of older adults in Norway. Methods 4350 participants (52% women,≥65 years at follow-up) were included in this prospective cohort study. Data was obtained from three waves of the population-based Tromsø Study in Norway; Tromsø4 (1994–1995), Tromsø6 (2007–2008) and Tromsø7 (follow-up, 2015–2016). Frailty status at follow-up was defined by a modifed version of Fried’s phenotype. Fish intake was self-reported in the three surveys and assessed as three levels of frequency of intake: low (0–3 times/month), medium (1–3 times/week) and high (≥4 times/week). The fsh–pre-frailty association was analysed using multivariable logistic regression in two ways; (1) frequency of intake of lean, fatty and total fish in Tromsø6 and pre-frailty at follow-up, and (2) patterns of total fsh intake across the three surveys and pre-frailty at follow-up. Results At follow-up, 28% (n=1124) were pre-frail. Participants with a higher frequency of lean, fatty and total fish intake had 28% (odds ratio (OR)=0.72, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.53, 0.97), 37% (OR=0.63, 95% CI=0.43, 0.91) and 31% (OR=0.69, 95% CI=0.52, 0.91) lower odds of pre-frailty 8 years later compared with those with a low intake, respectively. A pattern of stable high fish intake over 21 years was associated with 41% (OR=0.59, 95% CI=0.38, 0.91) lower odds of pre-frailty compared with a stable low intake. Conclusions A higher frequency of intake of lean, fatty and total fish, and a pattern of consistent frequent fish intake over time, were associated with lower odds of pre-frailty in older community-dwelling Norwegian adults. These results emphasise the important role of fish in a healthy diet and that a frequent fish intake should be promoted to facilitate healthy ageing

Associations of the 2018 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute of Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) cancer prevention recommendations with stages of colorectal carcinogenesis

Background: While adherence to cancer prevention recommendations is linked to lower risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), few have studied associations across the entire spectrum of colorectal carcinogenesis. Here, we studied the relationship of the standardized 2018 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) Score for cancer prevention recommendations with detection of colorectal lesions in a screening setting. As a secondary objective, we examined to what extent the recommendations were being followed in an external cohort of CRC patients. Methods: Adherence to the seven-point 2018 WCRF/AICR Score was measured in screening participants receiving a positive fecal immunochemical test and in CRC patients participating in an intervention study. Dietary intake, body fatness and physical activity were assessed using self-administered questionnaires. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for screen-detected lesions. Results: Of 1486 screening participants, 548 were free from adenomas, 524 had non-advanced adenomas, 349 had advanced lesions and 65 had CRC. Adherence to the 2018 WCRF/AICR Score was inversely associated with advanced lesions; OR 0.82 (95% CI 0.71, 0.94) per score point, but not with CRC. Of the seven individual components included in the score, alcohol, and BMI seemed to be the most influential. Of the 430 CRC patients included in the external cohort, the greatest potential for lifestyle improvement was seen for the recommendations concerning alcohol and red and processed meat, where 10% and 2% fully adhered, respectively. Conclusions: Adherence to the 2018 WCRF/AICR Score was associated with lower probability of screen-detected advanced precancerous lesions, but not CRC. Although some components of the score seemed to be more influential than others (i.e., alcohol and BMI), taking a holistic approach to cancer prevention is likely the best way to prevent the occurrence of precancerous colorectal lesions

Test-retest reproducibility of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and estimated effects on disease risk in the Norwegian Women and Cancer Study (NOWAC)

BACKGROUND: The Norwegian Women and Cancer Study (NOWAC) is a national population-based cohort study with 102 443 women enrolled at age 30–70 y from 1991 to 1997. The present study was a methodological sub-study to assess the test-retest reproducibility of the NOWAC food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and to study how measurement errors in the data can affect estimates of disease risk. METHODS: A random sample of 2000 women aged 46–75 y was drawn from the cohort in 2002. A self-instructive health and lifestyle questionnaire with a FFQ section was mailed to the same subjects twice (test-retest), about three months apart, with a response rate of 75%. The FFQ was designed to assess habitual diet over the past year. We assess the reproducibility of single questions, food groups, energy, and nutrients with several statistical measures. We also demonstrate the method of regression calibration to correct disease risk estimates for measurement error. Alcohol intake (g/day) and high blood pressure (yes/no) is used in the example. RESULTS: For single foods there were some indications of seasonal reporting bias. For food groups and nutrients the reliability coefficients ranged from 0.5–0.8, and Pearson's r, Spearman's r(s), and two intraclass correlation coefficients gave similar results. Although alcohol intake had relatively high reproducibility (r = 0.72), odds ratio estimates for the association with blood pressure were attenuated towards the null value compared to estimates corrected by regression calibration. CONCLUSION: The level of reproducibility observed for the FFQ used in the NOWAC study is within the range reported for similar instruments, but may attenuate estimates of disease risk