The wildlife watching tourist guide : a case study on the role of wildlife watching guides in Norway

Denne oppgaven undersøker rollene til viltkikkingsturisme guider som fokuserer på store rovdyr og store klovdyr i Norge. Videre undersøker den komponentene i rollen til guiden og mulige forskjeller mellom de to gruppene. Forskningsspørsmålet som oppgaven tar sikte på å besvare er: Hvilke komponenter inngår i rollen til guiden ved norske viltkikkings aktiviteter basert på store landbaserte pattedyr, og er det noen forskjeller mellom guidede aktiviteter som baserer seg på store klovdyr og aktiviteter som er basert på store rovdyr? For å besvare disse spørsmålene ble det benyttet en kvalitativ forskningsmetode med bruk av semistrukturerte dybdeintervjuer. Totalt ble ti forskjellige guider intervjuet hvorav det var fem guider med fokus på hver gruppe av pattedyr. Resultatene viste at noen guider ikke hadde et møte med fokus arten som hovedmål, men i stedet prøvde å finne spor og sportegn som de kunne vise deltakerne. Videre indikerte funnene at viltkikkingsturisme guider må kunne håndtere konflikter mellom seg selv og deltakerne i gruppen og konflikter mellom gruppen og personer utenfor gruppen. Videre viste funnene liten betydning og relevans for Cohens (1985) interaksjons komponent for viltkikkingsturisme guider. En annen overraskende oppdagelse var mangelen på ferdigheter i interpretasjon og oppfordringer til bevaring av fokus arten blant guidene. De praktiske implikasjonene av disse funnene tyder på at det kan være behov for mer guideopplæring for norske viltkikking guider, for å kunne sikre høy kvalitet på guidingen og interpretasjonen. Sertifiseringer for guider er også en mulighet som bør vurderes.This paper examines the roles of wildlife watching guides focused on large carnivoran mammals and large cloven-hoofed mammals in Norway. Moreover, it examines the components of the roles and potential differences between the two groups. The problem question that the thesis aims to answer is: Which components are included in the role of the guide at Norwegian wildlife watching tourism activities based on large land-based mammals, and are there any differences between guiding activities based on large cloven-hoofed mammals and activities based on large carnivoran mammals? A qualitative research method was conducted using semi-structured in-depth interviews to answer these research questions. Ten different guides were interviewed, with five guides focused on each group of mammals. The results showed that some guides did not have an encounter with their target species as their primary objective but instead tried to find signs and tracks that they could show the participants. Moreover, the findings also indicated that wildlife watching guides need to be able to manage conflicts between themselves and participants and conflicts between the group and people outside of the group. Furthermore, the findings showed little importance and relevance for Cohen’s (1985) interactional component for wildlife watching guides. Another surprising discovery was the lack of interpretation skills and encouragement for conservation of the target species among the guides. The practical implications of these findings indicate that there could be a need for more guide training for Norwegian wildlife-watching guides to ensure high-quality guiding and interpretation. In addition, certifications for guides are also a possibility that should be considered.M-REI

Tissue motion in blood velocity estimation and its simulation

Determination of blood velocities for color flow mapping systems involves both stationary echo canceling and velocity estimation. Often the stationary echo canceling filter is the limiting factor in color flow mapping and the optimization and further development of this filter is crucial to the improvement of color flow imaging. Optimization based on in-vivo data is difficult since the blood and tissue signals cannot be accurately distinguished and the correct extend of the vessel under investigation is often unknown. This study introduces a model for the simulation of blood velocity data in which tissue motion is included. Tissue motion from breathing, heart beat, and vessel pulsation were determined based on in-vivo RF-data obtained from 10 healthy volunteers. The measurements were taken at the carotid artery at one condition and in the liver at three conditions. Each measurement was repeated 10 times to cover the whole cardiac cycle and a total of 400 independent RF measurements of..

The prevalence and incidence of glaucoma in Denmark in a fifteen year period:a nationwide study

The purpose of the present study was to describe the prevalence, incidence and geographic variation of glaucoma in Denmark in the period from 1996 to 2011. Moreover, the aim was to identify the treatment patterns of glaucoma within the studied period.All Danish citizens were included throughout the study period. The National Prescription Registry was used to identify all claimed prescriptions for glaucoma medication.A total of 116,592 incident glaucoma patients were identified. Average age at onset was 66 years (range: 0-105 years), 55% were women. The prevalence of glaucoma increased from 0.79% to 1.72% during the investigated period. In 2011 glaucoma affected 3.76% of the population above 50 years and 10% in patients above 80 years. The age-specific incidence rate of glaucoma seemed to be constant and the increasing prevalence was primarily attributed to an aging population. We found the highest prevalence of glaucoma in the capital region of Denmark. Within the studied period the use of prostaglandin analogs and combination drugs increased, whereas the use of β-blockers, carbon anhydrase inhibitors and parasympathomimetic drugs decreased (p<0.001). Finally, the use of α2-adrenergic agonists remained unchanged. A total of 75% of the patients were treated with two or more glaucoma medications.Over all, the present study is the first to assess the frequency and the development of glaucoma in Denmark over a 15-year period. We find that glaucoma affects a little less than 2% of the total population and increases with age to reach a prevalence of more than 10% amongst people above 80 years. Generally, the present study is the largest nation-wide study ever made and must be a close-to-real-life-picture of the utilization of glaucoma medication on a national scale. Our findings confirm other recent estimations on an increasing burden of glaucoma globally

Review of key causes and sources for N2O emmisions and NO3-leaching from organic arable crop rotations

Abstract. The emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) and leaching of nitrate (NO3) have considerable negative impacts on climate and the environment. Although these environmental burdens are on average less per unit area in organic than in non-organic production, they are not smaller per unit of product. If organic farming is to maintain its goal of being an environmentally friendly production system, these emissions should be mitigated. We discuss the impact of possible triggers within organic arable farming practice for the risk of N2O emissions and NO3 leaching under European climatic conditions, and possible strategies to reduce these. Organic arable crop rotations can be characterised as diverse with frequent use of legumes, intercropping and organic fertilizers. The soil organic matter content and share of active organic matter, microbial and faunal activity are higher, soil structure better and yields lower, than in non-organic, arable crop rotations. Soil mineral nitrogen (SMN), N2O emissions and NO3 leaching are low under growing crops, but there is high potential for SMN accumulation and losses after crop termination or crop harvest. The risk for high N2O fluxes is increased when large amounts of herbage or organic fertilizers with readily available nitrogen (N) and carbon are incorporated into the soil or left on the surface. Freezing/thawing, drying/rewetting, compacted and/or wet soil and mixing with rotary harrow further enhance the risk for high N2O fluxes. These complex soil N dynamics mask the correlation between total N-input and N2O emissions from organic arable crop rotations. Incorporation of N rich plant residues or mechanical weeding followed by bare fallow increases the risk of nitrate leaching. In contrast, strategic use of deep-rooted crops with long growing seasons in the rotation reduces nitrate leaching risk. Reduced tillage can reduce N leaching if yields are maintained. Targeted treatment and use of herbage from green manures, crop residues and catch crops will increase N efficiency and reduce N2O emissions and NO3 leaching. Continued regular use of catch crops has the potential to reduce NO3 leaching but may enhance N2O emissions. A mixture of legumes and non-legumes (for instance grasses or cereals) are as efficient a catch crop as monocultures of non-legume species

Redskaber til monitorering af trafikken (REMOTE)

GPS data fra kørende biler vil sandsynligvis i fremtiden erstatte traditionelle spoler i vejene som grundlaget for realtidstrafikinformation. I denne artikel beskrives et projekt under EU’s VIKING program, hvor der er udviklet udstyr til indsamling og behandling af GPS data fra kørende biler med henblik på realtidstrafikinformation. Endvidere beskrives et feltforsøg med 10 taxier

Trends in incidence, mortality, and causes of death associated with systemic sclerosis in Denmark between 1995 and 2015:a nationwide cohort study

Variables and sources. Diagnoses (ICD-8 and ICD-10) and medication (ATC, Anatomical Therapeutical Chemical) codes used. (DOCX 20 kb

Reviews and syntheses: Review of causes and sources of N2O emissions and NO3 leaching from organic arable crop rotations

The emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) and leaching of nitrate (NO3) from agricultural cropping systems have considerable negative impacts on climate and the environment. Although these environmental burdens are less per unit area in organic than in non-organic production on average, they are roughly similar per unit of product. If organic farming is to maintain its goal of being environmentally friendly, these loadings must be addressed. We discuss the impact of possible drivers of N2O emissions and NO3 leaching within organic arable farming practice under European climatic conditions, and potential strategies to reduce these. Organic arable crop rotations are generally diverse with the frequent use of legumes, intercropping and organic fertilisers. The soil organic matter content and the share of active organic matter, soil structure, microbial and faunal activity are higher in such diverse rotations, and the yields are lower, than in non-organic arable cropping systems based on less diverse systems and inorganic fertilisers. Soil mineral nitrogen (SMN), N2O emissions and NO3 leaching SMN accumulation and losses after crop termination, harvest or senescence. The risk of high N2O fluxes increases when large amounts of herbage or organic fertilisers with readily available nitrogen (N) and degradable carbon are incorporated into the soil or left on the surface. Freezing/thawing, drying/rewetting, compacted and/or wet soil and mechanical mixing of crop residues into the soil further enhance the risk of high N2O fluxes. N derived from soil organic matter (background emissions) does, however, seem to be the most important driver for N2O emission from organic arable crop rotations, and the correlation between yearly total Ninput and N2O emissions is weak. Incorporation of N-rich plant residues or mechanical weeding followed by bare fallow conditions increases the risk of NO3 leaching. In contrast, strategic use of deep-rooted crops with long growing seasons or effective cover crops in the rotation reduces NO3 leaching risk. Enhanced recycling of herbage from green manures, crop residues and cover crops through biogas or com-posting may increase N efficiency and reduce N2O emissions and NO3 leaching. Mixtures of legumes (e.g. clover or vetch) and non-legumes (e.g. grasses or Brassica species) are as efficient cover crops for reducing NO3 leaching as monocultures of non-legume species. Continued regular use of cover crops has the potential to reduce NO3 leaching and enhance soil organic matter but may enhance N2O emissions. There is a need to optimise the use of crops and cover crops to enhance the synchrony of mineralisation with crop N uptake to enhance crop productivity, and this will concurrently reduce the long-term risks of NO3 leaching and N2O emissions