Evolution of surface gravity waves over a submarine canyon

The effects of a submarine canyon on the propagation of ocean surface waves are examined with a three-dimensional coupled-mode model for wave propagation over steep topography. Whereas the classical geometrical optics approximation predicts an abrupt transition from complete transmission at small incidence angles to no transmission at large angles, the full model predicts a more gradual transition with partial reflection/transmission that is sensitive to the canyon geometry and controlled by evanescent modes for small incidence angles and relatively short waves. Model results for large incidence angles are compared with data from directional wave buoys deployed around the rim and over Scripps Canyon, near San Diego, California, during the Nearshore Canyon Experiment (NCEX). Wave heights are observed to decay across the canyon by about a factor 5 over a distance shorter than a wavelength. Yet, a spectral refraction model predicts an even larger reduction by about a factor 10, because low frequency components cannot cross the canyon in the geometrical optics approximation. The coupled-mode model yields accurate results over and behind the canyon. These results show that although most of the wave energy is refractively trapped on the offshore rim of the canyon, a small fraction of the wave energy 'tunnels' across the canyon. Simplifications of the model that reduce it to the standard and modified mild slope equations also yield good results, indicating that evanescent modes and high order bottom slope effects are of minor importance for the energy transformation of waves propagating across depth contours at large oblique angles

Improving surgery and prognostication in right-sided colon cancer

Bakgrunn Kreft i tykktarm er blant de vanligste kreftformene i Norge. Kirurgi er viktigste behandling for tykktarmskreft uten spredning, men har ikke gjennomgått samme forbedringer som behandling for endetarmskreft. En faktor som bidro til bedre overlevelse for endetarmskreft var standardisering av og mer radikal kirurgi. Det er på tide at behandling for tykktarmkreft gjennomgår tilsvarende forbedringer. Forskjeller i anatomi, biologi og prognose relatert til svulstens lokalisasjon i tykktarmen førte søkelyset til høyresidig tarmkreft. Kirurgi for proksimale svulster er teknisk vanskelig i tillegg til at de har en særegen biologi og dårlig prognose. Kjennskap til svulstens biologi er nødvendig for persontilpasset kreftbehandling, og inspirerte til en studie med flytende biopsi og analyse av sirkulerende DNA fra svulsten (ctDNA). Formål Målet med studien var å sammenlikne komplikasjoner etter radial kirurgi hos pasienter operert med åpen- eller kikkhullsoperasjon for høyresidig tykktarmskreft. Spesifikke komplikasjoner ble også undersøkt. Lengden på gjenværende karstump etter reseksjon ble vurdert som et mål på kvalitet. Målet med biomarkørstudien var å undersøke om ctDNA kan forutsi tilbakefall. Metode I studien ble 128 pasienter randomisert til åpen- eller kikkhulls-operasjon. Kirurgien ble utført standardisert og med mål om å fjerne de sentrale lymfeknutene i operasjonsområdet. De første 40 pasientene, 20 fra hver gruppe, ble undersøkt med måling av gjenværende stump fra blodkaret etter operasjon. Målingen ble utført på CT tatt 6 måneder etter operasjon, og ble utført to ganger av to uavhengige radiologer. I den prospektive observasjonsstudien for biomarkører ble 50 pasienter undersøkt med neste generasjons sekvensering og digital dråpe PCR (ddPCR) for kreftrelaterte mutasjoner i svulst og blod. Resultat Det var ingen forskjeller i komplikasjoner mellom de to gruppene. Det var ingen livstruende komplikasjoner og få alvorlige komplikasjoner med 8 % i den åpne gruppen og 5 % i kikkhulls-gruppen. Ingen pasienter ble reoperert for lekkasje i tarmskjøten. Blodoverføring eller infusjon av jern var den vanligste komplikasjonen (22 % åpen vs. 15 % kikkhull). Postoperativ tarmparalyse var den nest vanligste komplikasjonen, og ble registret hos 16 % operert åpent og 19 % operert med kikkhull. Det ble i gjennomsnitt fjernet like mange lymfeknuter ved åpen operasjon (n=32) som ved kikkhullsoperasjon (n=29). Gjenværende karstump var kort og lik i begge grupper (4mm). Det var godt samsvar mellom målingene til hver radiolog, mens det var forskjeller mellom de to. Forskjellene forekom i den åpne gruppen hvor det ikke var markør på karet som var delt. Kreftrelaterte mutasjoner ble funnet hos 49/50 pasienter, og 47 av disse var mulig å følge med ddPCR. ctDNA kunne påvises hos 31/47 pasienter før operasjon, og ble redusert etter operasjon hos 27/31. Risiko for tilbakefall var forhøyet hos pasienter hvor ctDNA kunne påvises etter operasjon (justert hazard ratio: 173). Konklusjon/implikasjoner Høyresidig kolektomi med sentral lymfeknutedisseksjon foran vena mesenterica superior er en anvendelig, trygg og reproduserbar metode som kan bli fremtidig standard ved høyresidig tykktarmskreft. Lengden av gjenværende karstump kan være kvalitetsmarkør for omfang av lymfeknutedisseksjon. ctDNA kan forutsi tidlig tilbakefall ved høyresidig tykktarmskreft.Background The incidence of colon cancer is high in Norway. Surgery is the mainstay in the treatment of colon cancer but has not undergone the same improvements as rectal cancer. Standardisation of and more radical surgery was one of the measures that lead to increased survival for rectal cancer. It is time for colon cancer to undergo the same improvements. Differences in tumour biology, anatomy and prognosis related to localisation of the tumour in colon, led to focus on right-sided colon cancer. The proximal tumours have a distinct tumour biology with poor prognosis in addition to technical demanding surgery. Knowledge of tumour biology is necessary to personalize cancer treatment and inspired to launch a project with liquid biopsy and analysis of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA). Aim The aim of the study was to compare the differences in complications after radical surgery between open and laparoscopic surgery for right-sided colon cancer. Specific complications were also explored. Surgical quality was evaluated by comparing length of remaining vascular stump length after resection. The aim of the biomarker study was to investigate ctDNA as a predictor of recurrence. Method In the trial, 128 patients were randomised to receive either open or laparoscopic colectomy. The surgery was standardized and focused on central lymphadenectomy. The first 40 patients, 20 in each group were explored for length of remaining vascular stump length after resection by measurements in computed tomography 6 months postoperative. The measurements were conducted twice by two independent radiologists. In the prospective observational biomarker study 50 patients were explored by next generation sequencing and digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) for cancer related mutations in tumour and blood. Results There was no difference in complications between the two groups. There were no life-threatening complications and a low incidence of serious complications with 8 % in the open group and 5 % in the laparoscopic group. No patients were reoperated due to anastomotic leaks. Transfusion or infusion of i.v iron was the most common complication (22 % open vs 15 % laparoscopic). Postoperative ileus was the second most common complications and occurred in 16 % after open and 19 % after laparoscopic surgery. Equal number of mean lymph nodes was removed in open (n=32) and laparoscopic (n=29) group. The remaining vascular stump length after resection was short and equal in the two groups (4 mm). Interclass correlation for each observer was good but interclass correlation between observers was poor. The discrepancy occurred in the open group where no marker was present at the vessel stump. Cancer related mutations was detected in 49/50 patients of which 47 available for surveillance with ddPCR assays. ctDNA was present in liquid biopsy prior to surgery in 31/47 patients and was reduced after surgery in 27/31 patients. Risk for recurrence was elevated in the patients with postoperative positive ctDNA (adjusted hazard ratio: 173). Conclusion/implications Right-sided colectomy with central lymphadenectomy along superior mesenteric vein is applicable, safe, and reproducible and can be the future standard for right-sided colon cancer. Vascular stump length can be a quality marker for central lymph node dissection. ctDNA is a strong predictor for early recurrence in right sided colon cancer and must be further explored in clinical trials to establish its role in routine diagnostics.Doktorgradsavhandlin

To Deceive or not Deceive: Unveiling The Adoption Determinants Of Defensive Cyber Deception in Norwegian Organizations

Due to the prevailing threat landscape in Norway, it is imperative for organizations to safe- guard their infrastructures against cyber threats. One of the technologies that is advan- tageous against these threats is defensive cyber deception, which is an approach in cyber security that aims to be proactive, to interact with the attackers, trick them, deceive them and use this to the defenders advantage. This type of technology can help organizations defend against sophisticated threat actors that are able to avoid more traditional defensive mechanisms, such as Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) or Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS). In order to aid the adoption of defensive cyber deception in Norway, we asked the question: "What affects the adoption of defensive cyber deception in organizations in Nor- way?". To answer this question, we utilized the Technology, Organization, and Environment (TOE) Framework to identity what factors affect an organization’s adoption of defensive cyber deception. Through our use of the framework, we identified eighteen different factors which affect an organization’s adoption of defensive cyber deception. These factors are the product of the empirical data analysis from eight different semi-structured interview with individuals from six different organizations in Norway. The main theoretical implications of our research is the introduction of a TOE model for defensive cyber deception, focusing specifically on organizations in Norway as well as contributing with a maturity estimate model for defensive cyber deception. For the practical implications of our research, we have identified seven different benefits that defensive cyber deception provides. We are also con- tributing to raising the awareness of defensive cyber deception in Norwegian research and we hope that our TOE model can aid organizations that are considering adopting the tech- nology. We hope that these implications and contributions can act as a spark for both the adoption of defensive cyber deception in organizations as well as the start of a new wave for the cyber security researchers within Norway. Keywords: Cyber Security, Defensive Cyber Deception, TOE Framework, Adoptio

A Blended Learning Course Design in Clinical Pharmacology for Post-graduate Dental Students

Postgraduate courses in clinical pharmacology are important for dentists to be updated on drug therapy and information related to their clinical practice, as well as knowledge of relevant adverse effects and interactions. A traditional approach with classroom delivery as the only method to teaching and learning has shortcomings regarding flexibility, individual learning preferences, and problem based learning (PBL) activities compared to online environments. This study examines a five week postgraduate course in clinical pharmacology with 15 hours of lectures and online learning activities, i.e. blended course design. Six postgraduate dental students participated and at the end of the course they were interviewed. Our findings emphasize that a blended learning course design can be successfully used in postgraduate dental education. Key matters for discussion were time flexibility and location convenience, change in teacher’s role, rein-forced learning strategies towards professional needs, scarcity in online communication, and proposed future utilization of e-learning components.publishedVersio

To Deceive or not Deceive: Unveiling The Adoption Determinants Of Defensive Cyber Deception in Norwegian Organizations

Due to the prevailing threat landscape in Norway, it is imperative for organizations to safeguard their infrastructures against cyber threats. One of the technologies that is advantageous against these threats is defensive cyber deception, which is an approach in cyber security that aims to be proactive, to interact with the attackers, trick them, deceive them and use this to the defenders advantage. This type of technology can help organizations defend against sophisticated threat actors that are able to avoid more traditional defensive mechanisms, such as Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) or Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS). In order to aid the adoption of defensive cyber deception in Norway, we asked the question: "What affects the adoption of defensive cyber deception in organizations in Norway?". To answer this question, we utilized the Technology, Organization, and Environment (TOE) Framework to identity what factors affect an organization's adoption of defensive cyber deception. Through our use of the framework, we identified eighteen different factors which affect an organization's adoption of defensive cyber deception. These factors are the product of the empirical data analysis from eight different semi-structured interview with individuals from six different organizations in Norway. The main theoretical implications of our research is the introduction of a TOE model for defensive cyber deception, focusing specifically on organizations in Norway as well as contributing with a maturity estimate model for defensive cyber deception. For the practical implications of our research, we have identified seven different benefits that defensive cyber deception provides. We are also contributing to raising the awareness of defensive cyber deception in Norwegian research and we hope that our TOE model can aid organizations that are considering adopting the technology. We hope that these implications and contributions can act as a spark for both the adoption of defensive cyber deception in organizations as well as the start of a new wave for the cyber security researchers within Norway. Keywords: Cyber Security, Defensive Cyber Deception, TOE Framework, Adoptio

Forestillinger om alderdom i Norge

Sammendrag: Mitt tema har vært alderdom i Norge, hvordan man ser på alderdom og hvordan eldre og gamle ser seg selv og sin rolle i samfunnet. Jeg har valgt å se på dette som et spørsmål om identitet, både på individnivå og som kollektiv identitet, og kommer inn på gruppedannelse og hvordan media og offentlig diskurs påvirker gamles selvopplevelse. Under feltarbeid med intervjuer og survey har jeg møtt ulike grupper av eldre, og fant klare forskjeller i hvordan de levde sine liv og hvordan de ser på alderdom. Jeg intervjuet både eldre (55+) og gamle (80+), både kvinner og menn, og også en del fagpersoner som arbeider med eldre og gamle. Seniorkurs, en omsorgsbolig, et kultursenter for eldre og det generelle bybildet i en mellomstor norsk by var mine arenaer for feltarbeid, og jeg opplevde svært ulike aspekter ved aldring og alderdom. Jeg fant en klar vegring mot alderdom, særlig var det de yngre i informantgruppen som uttrykte motstand både mot å bli sett som eldre og å anerkjenne at de faktisk holder på å bli det. Er overgangen til pensjonisttilværelse en livskrise? Hvordan ble alderdom et stigma? Og hvorfor vil alle leve evig, men ingen vil bli eldre? Medias bilde av alderdom som en tragedie av skrøpelig ensomhet stemmer ikke med virkeligheten – bare 15 % av eldre/gamle over 80 år er pleietrengende. Hvorfor ser vi ikke mangfoldet og mulighetene? Om «eldrebølgen» virkelig er på vei vil morgendagens eldre neppe være blåkopier av dagens gamle. Med god planlegging, basert på et sant bilde av aldring, kan alle få en bedre alderdom. Jeg ønsker at denne oppgaven skal bidra til at forestillinger om alderdom blir mer nyansert, slik at man ikke bare ser rynkene og det skrøpelige, den ene statusen i hele menneskets repertoar.Abstract: My topic is aging in Norway, how old age is seen and how the elderly see themselves and their role in society. I have chosen to see this as a question of identity, at an individual level and as a collective identity. I here look at how groups are formed and how media and public discourse affect our experience of self as we age. In my fieldwork, with interviews and surveys, I have met different groups of elderly people, and found clear differences in how they live their lives and how they view old age. I interviewed elderly (55+) and old (80+) people, women and men, and also some professionals who meet the elderly in their work. A senior citizens’ resource centre, a care home, a cultural center for the elderly and a small town in North Norway have been my fieldwork locations, and I found many different aspects of aging and being old. I found strong resistance towards aging, especially among the younger of my informants. They expressed reluctance to being seen as elderly or even acknowledging that they are actually getting older. Is entering retirement a life crisis? How did old age become a stigma? And why does everybody want to live forever, but nobody wants to get older? Media’s image of old age, as a tragedy of frailty is not in accordance with reality – only 15% of the 80+ generation are in need of care. Why do we not see the plurality, the opportunities? Even if the “grey wave” is really coming, the elderly of tomorrow will most likely not be like the elderly of yesterday or even today. With good planning, we can all have a better senior phase in life. My wish is that this thesis will contribute to images of old age becoming more nuanced, so that you see not only wrinkles and frailty, but more than the one status in the whole person’s repertoire

Bærekraftige arealbruks- og transportstrategier? Erfaringer fra Freiburg, Groningen, Lund, Bergen og Jæren

Paperet bygger på rapport 689/2003 ved Transportøkonomisk institutt, Oslo. I rapporten gjennomgås strategier for arealbruk og transport fra byene Freiburg (D), Groningen (NL), Lund (S), Bergen og Jæren (Stavanger-Sandnes) (N). Studien viser at iverksetting av bestemte tiltak og strategier kan gi positive effekter når det gjelder bilbruk og reisemiddelvalg. Studien er gjennomført på oppdrag for svenske Vägverket. Vägverket har nå (2004-2005) satt i gang et nytt forskningsprosjekt: Organisering av transportsystemet på regionalt nivå - en komparativ studie av nordiske forsøk på samordnet planlegging. Prosjektet omfatter 9 nordiske storbyregioner: Stockholm, Göteborg, Malmö, København, Helsingfors, Bergen, Jæren, Trondheim og Stavanger

Interdisciplinary Approaches Suggested for Children With Multiple Hospital Referrals Presenting With Non-specific Conditions

Aims: To describe the care patterns of patients with repeated referrals to both mental and somatic specialist healthcare, and to study their diagnostic processes. Methods: In a previous register study patients aged 6–12 years referred to Haukeland University Hospital from 2013 to 2015, we found 922 children with at least three referrals including both somatic and mental health services. Of these, more than one in four (250) were randomly selected and observed from their first hospital episode ever and further after inclusion followed during their next three referrals or until July 2017. Data on referral patterns and diagnostics were collected from patient hospital records. Results: Mean number of referrals was 6.5 prior to inclusion and 4.2 in the follow-up period. At the end of the study period 15% of patients still had a non-specific diagnosis. During the follow-up period, more than half of the children were again referred across the border between somatic and mental healthcare. Conclusion: Very complex care patterns were found for these patients, who were repeatedly being referred and “crossing over” between mental and somatic healthcare. This indicates a need for more interdisciplinary-based approaches both within specialist care and between different care levels to broaden the perspective and achieve shorter time lag before reaching a diagnostic conclusion.publishedVersio

An interdisciplinary intervention for children with complex health complaints; a feasibility study of selection criteria

Background: There is a need for re-designing the health service for children suffering from complex and compound health complaints. Based on a previous register study, we have developed criteria to select patients with complex health complaints eligible for an Intervention with an interdisciplinary professional team. The team consists of a pediatrician, a psychologist and a physiotherapist. Method: To identify children with complex health complaints who would benefit from this intervention, we have selected a group of patients by using a set of criteria consisting of the following criteria: multi-referred young school age children referred to both mental health service and pediatric service. This study focuses on the feasibility of these criteria by measuring participation and compliance and by gathering feedback from the team members in the interdisciplinary team. Results: Among 677 children aged 6−12 years referred to a regional hospital, we found 32 (5%) children eligible for the interdisciplinary Intervention according to the applied criteria. Only 6% of the invited parents declined to participate in the intervention. According to the interdisciplinary team, the intervention was found suitable for 88% of the children. Conclusion: The suggested criteria seemed feasible, in terms of identifying eligible patients for this interdisciplinary Intervention for children with complex health complaints.publishedVersio

Autoenum: Automatic mapping and exposure analysis of network endpoints

IT-sikkerhet har aldri vært like viktig som det er nå, med trusselagenter som blir mer sofistikerte for hver sekund som går. Vi må jobbe hardt for å holde følge og sikre tjenestene våre. NTNU SOC ønsket å implementere en tjeneste (Autoenum) som skulle hjelpe dem med å skanne et nettverk med jevne mellomrom fra Internett og / eller et internt nettverk. Prosjektgruppen hadde fått i oppgave å lage dette systemet, som skulle inneholde en skanner, en database og API for å gi funksjonaliteten til systemet. Skanneren vil skanne et nettverk for å se etter maskiner, åpne porter, som vil bli sjekket for sårbarheter. Resultatet fra skannene blir lagret i en database og blir gjort tilgjengelig via en API. Gruppen brukte Scrum som rammeverk for programvareutviklingen. Scrum hjalp gruppen med sin smidige tilnærming, som inneholder sprinter som ble satt opp gjennom hele prosjektperioden. Autoenum har utviklet seg mye i løpet av prosjektperioden. Den leverer nå alt NTNU SOC ba om og litt mer. Gruppen håper Autoenum vil være av verdi for NTNU SOC, når de skal utføre arbeidet sitt for å sikre NTNU-nettverket.IT-security has never been as important as it is now, with threat agents becoming more sophisticated by the second. This forces us to work hard to keep up and secure our services. The NTNU SOC wanted to implement a service (Autoenum) that would help them scan a network periodically from the Internet and/or an internal network. The project group was tasked to create this system, which would contain a scanner, a database and API to help give the system its functionality. The scanner should scan a network to look for hosts and open ports, which would be checked for vulnerabilities. The scan result would be saved in a database and would be made available through an API. The group used Scrum as their software development framework. Scrum helped the group with its agile approach, which includes sprints that were set up throughout the project period. Autoenum has evolved a lot during the project period. It now delivers everything the NTNU SOC asked for and some more as well. The group hopes Autoenum will be of value when NTNU SOC is conducting their work of keeping the NTNU network secure