Finanskrisen : konsekvenser for norsk næringslivs finansieringsmuligheter og bedrifters respons

Utredningen tar for seg finanskrisens konsekvenser for norske bedrifter. Hovedfokuset er på hvordan finansieringsmulighetene til bedriftene har endret seg, og hvordan bedrifter responderer. Hovedsakelig diskuteres finansielle tilpasninger. Norske bedrifter rammes hardt av finanskrisen. Både tilgangen på og kostnaden ved finansiering er blitt betydelig forverret for mange norske bedrifter. Finanskrisen påvirker samtlige bedrifters finansieringskilder. Omsetningen til norske bedrifter er allerede redusert og det forventes ytterligere forverring i økonomiske utsikter i tiden som kommer. For å imøtekomme endringene har bedrifter iverksatt ulike tiltak. Dette omfatter reduksjon av utbytte, salg av eiendeler og økt bruk av kredittlinjer med mer. Generelt har bedrifter med finansieringsproblemer blitt mer kreative i hvordan de finansierer daglig drift. Som følge av en vanskeligere finansieringssituasjon og svekkede økonomiske utsikter har investeringsplanene til mange norske bedrifter blitt redusert og arbeidsplasser har gått tapt

Effect of a Pre-Treatment Educational Video in Improving Patient Satisfaction with 5-Fluorouracil Treatment for Actinic Keratoses: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

IntroductionPatient treatment satisfaction and adherence may be affected by the initial understanding of outcomes in the treatment of actinic keratoses with 5-fluorouracil 5% cream (5-FU). Pre-treatment educational videos may optimize this understanding. The objective of this study was to determine whether prospective patient viewing of an educational video delineating treatment effects and expectations improves patient satisfaction and treatment completion rates for the treatment of actinic keratoses with 5-FU.MethodsForty-four participants were recruited to the UC Davis Dermatology outpatient clinic. Each participant was randomized to the video (group A) or control group (group B), and topical 5-FU cream treatment was conducted for 2 weeks in both groups.ResultsA follow-up questionnaire was performed to assess patient satisfaction and adherence to the treatment regimen. The results of these questions were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test. One item on the questionnaire asked the patient to rate their overall level of satisfaction on a score of 0-100. The results of this question were analyzed using the unpaired t test. The results of the statistical analysis show no significant difference between the patient group that viewed the video and the patient group that did not view the video.ConclusionsWe speculate that this study may establish a foundation for subsequent studies that may affect the broader medical community and promote development of educational videos

Sistem Pendukung Keputusan Penentuan Harga Barang Pada UKM Mart Dharma Karya Palembang

UKM Mart adalah salah satu usaha yang didirikan oleh kelompok koprasi Dharma Karya Palembang. UKM Mart memiliki beberapa permasalahan terhadap penentuan harga barang, yaitu penetapan harga yang kurang tepat jika di bandingkan dengan harga pesaing. Oleh karena itu UKM Mart membutuhkan sistem pendukung keputusan yang dapat mengatasi masalah tersebut, dalam hal ini penulis menggunakan metode dempster shafer sebagai acuan untuk proses perhitungan. Tujuan pengembangan sistem ini yaitu mempermudah dan mempercepat dalam mentukan harga jual yang bersaing. Dalam pengembangan ini penulis menggunakan metodologi RUP (Rational Unified Process). Metodologi RUP ada empat tahap pengembangan yaitu Inception yaitu tahap pengumpulan data, Elaboration yaitu tahap pada perencanaan arsitektur sistem seperti diagram usecase, activity, sequence dan class, Construction yaitu tahap dalam implementasi dengan menggunakan Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 dan Microsoft SQL 2008, dan Transition yaitu tahap dalam instalasi sistem

Effective elastic thickness and crustal thickness variations in west central Africa inferred from gravity data

International audienceThe west central African region is characterized by various geological features: Cretaceous rifts (Benue), Tertiary domal uplift (Adamawa volcanic uplift), Tertiary-Recent volcanoes (Cameroon Volcanic Line or CVL), Tertiary sedimentary basins (Chad basins), and cratonic region (Congolese craton). In this study, we investigate the relationship between these tectonic features and the flexural rigidity of the lithosphere in Cameroon, in terms of effective elastic thickness (Te), by the use of the coherence function analysis. For that purpose, we use a new dataset of-32,000 gravity and topography points from Cameroon and the adjacent countries. The Te contour map deduced from this study shows a good relationship between the tectonic provinces and the rigidity of the lithosphere, the minima (14-20 km) are beneath the active rifted and volcanic areas (Benue, CVL, and Adamawa), and the maxima (-40 km) correspond to the Archean reworked unit in Congo. A spectral analysis of the gravity data is performed to determine the crust-mantle boundary in these tectonic provinces. The crustal thickness (Tc) contour map shows a variation from 14 km to about 45 km, consistent with other geophysical data. The lower values (14-20 km) are obtained in central Cameroon on the Adamawa uplift, and the highest values are found in southern Cameroon (Archean reworked Congolese craton). Comparing Te and Tc values shows that there is generally a positive correlation between the two parameters, with an exception in Chad where this correlation is rather negative

The role of building surveyors in rural land use planning

The State Planning Commission has prepared a draft Rural Land Use Planning Policy which aims to provide an effective framework for planning in rural areas. The Policy proposes that local authorities currently experiencing land use conflicts or pressure for development and subdivision, prepare a Local Rural Strategy prior to the Commission considering any major development proposals

The effect of tunnel construction particles on Daphnia magna

Particles originating from drilling and blasting during tunnel construction have the potential to end up in the environment, however, there is a knowledge gap concerning the effect of these particles on aquatic biota. In this master thesis, acute toxicity tests (48h and 72h) were performed with the test species Daphnia magna to identify concentrations causing immobilization, particle uptake, and abnormal appearance. In a laboratory setup, the daphnids were exposed to starting concentration of total suspended solids (TSS) with a range between 200-3000 mg/L of tunnel particles and control. TSS and turbidity were measured to identify changes in suspended solids (SS) during test periods. The particles concentration (EC50 values) that caused immobilizations were 761 (± 532) mg/L for the 48h test and 649 (± 82) mg/L for the 72h test. The EC90 values were 1641 (± 2361) mg/L for the 48h test and 941 (± 271) mg/L for the 72h test. For the higher estimated doses, the daphnids were more sensitive in the more extended test. The no observed effect concentration (NOEC) for the 48h and 72h tests were 492 mg/L and 562 mg/L, respectively. Exposed daphnids differed from the control in weight. Correlation tests showed a moderate negative correlation between the daphnids' weight and TSS for both 48h (R= -0.57) and 72h (R= -0.54). As the TSS increased, the daphnid's weight decreased. This can be explained by the particles being within the daphnid feeding size, which led to the daphnid ingesting the particles and getting less nutrition than the control. Therefore, the growth rate was lower. Particles in the filter apparatus of daphnids possibly leading to ingestion were also confirmed with an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) of exposed daphnids. Additionally, element quantification of digested daphnids with ICP-MS showed elements like Yttrium (Y) and Thorium (Th) associated with the daphnids and positively correlated with TSS. These elements have low leaching capacity and are most likely associated with particles in or on the daphnids. The immobilization of daphnids occurred on concentrations over usually permitted values for projects. Furthermore, there were other effects like weight decrease and particles associated with the daphnids. Therefore, chronic effects would be interesting to study.M-MIN

Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre

Material of interest and material used: Tubular aluminum. Properties of material: Unlike a typical theatre, the Wyly accommodates back-of-house and front-of-house areas above and beneath the auditorium rather than wrapped around it, liberating its perimeter – a glass façade with optional blackout blinds – for direct contact with the urban surroundings.https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/bcs/1023/thumbnail.jp

Potential of Stirling Engine and Organic Rankine Cycle for Energy Recovery in Ship Machinery Systems - Potensial for energigjenvinning ved hjelp av Stirling motor eller Organisk Rankine-syklus i skipsmaskinerisystemer

Increasing fuel prices and stricter environmental regulations on emissions are motivating the maritime industry to be innovative on how to save fuel and reduce emissions. New technologies and more efficient use of existing systems can help solving these problems. In this report, a comparative study of the potential for recovering waste heat from a marine dual fuel engine by using Stirling engine or Organic Rankine cycles has been performed. The case vessel was the liquefied gas carrier BW GDF Suez Paris, with four Main Generator Engines, two rated at 11.4 MW, and two at 5.7 MW. The exergy and thermodynamic analyses in this study were based on measurement data from one of the 11.4 MW engines. All calculations and simulations were conducted using the commercial F-Chart Software Engineering Equation Solver. An exergy analysis was performed on the two main waste heat sources of the case vessel's engine; the exhaust stream and the high temperature jacket cooling water. The exergy in the exhaust stream was 1300 kW at 40% load and increased to 2000 kW for 100% load, which corresponds to 28.5% and 17.6% of the engine's power output respectively. For the cooling water, the exergy was approximately 700-850 kW, or about 6-7.5% of the engine's power output at 100% load. Three different Organic Rankine cycles were studied; a conventional subcritical cycle, a subcritical cycle with regeneration and superheat and a trans-critical cycle. A pre-screening of 50 different working fluids was done based on desirable thermophysical, environmental, safety and operational characteristics. A selection of 12 fluids were chosen to be implemented in the thermodynamic analyses. The best thermodynamic performance was found through simulations to be a subcritical cycle with regeneration and benzene as the working fluid, resulting in an efficiency of approximately 21%. Considering hydrocarbons' carcinogenic characteristics and flammability, the safest alternative was shown to be a subcritical Organic Rankine cycle with regeneration and R-245fa as the working fluid. This gave an efficiency of 14.5%, corresponding to 2.5% of the Main Generator Engine's power output at 100% load and 4.1% at 40% load. A Schmidt cycle analysis of an alpha Stirling engine was performed. The efficiency was calculated to be 22-35%. This is equivalent to 3.9% and 6.1% of the case vessel's main generator engine power output at 100% load. The efficiencies calculated for the Stirling engine were significantly higher than all the Organic Rankine cycle solutions. The best working fluid for Stirling engines seemed to be nitrogen due to its high availability, low cost and limited leakage and diffusion rate out of the engine. In the feasibility discussion, it was shown that the size of the Stirling engine might not be such a high concern as is typically stated in available research reports. The total volume of the Stirling engine was calculated to be smaller than the total volume of the Organic Rankine system. For the cost analysis, the shortest time until return on investment was calculated for the Organic Rankine cycle technology. Based on European prices for Liquefied Natural Gas, the Organic Rankine system had 3.9 years until Return on Investment, and the Stirling Engine had 6.6 years. Based on the literature survey, the thermodynamic analyses and the feasibility discussion, the Organic Rankine system showed to be the best solution for waste heat recovery systems in the near future for ships operating on global shipping routes. However, with sufficient investment in research and development of Stirling engines utilizing working fluids possessing good availability and safety, the Stirling engine might be a better solution considering its superior thermodynamic performance compared to Organic Rankine systems

Design of a near-threshold Microcontroller

There is a strong interest in ultra low voltage digital design as emerging applications like Internet of Things, wearable biomedical sensors, radio frequency identification, sensor networks and more are gaining traction. This thesis describes the implementation, synthesis and testing of a microcontroller using a near-threshold library. The system has been described in VHDL and synthesized for near-threshold operation on 28 nm FDSOI production technology from STmicroelectronics. The microcontroller implements a 32 bit RISC-V subset compatible pipelined processor and has SPI connectivity. Two single port 2kB SRAM modules are used as RAM. A power gating technique that reduces the static power in an ALU during runtime has been implemented and compared to a traditional ALU. Traditional coarse grain power gating of the processor has also been implemented. Using a supply voltage of 350 mV and a clock speed of 1 MHz the schematic SPICE simulation reported an average power consumption of 4.42 uW during program execution. In power gated mode the microcontroller consumed 2.98 uW. In a sensor logging program the average energy per executed instruction was 4.91 pJ. Runtime power gating reduced the average energy consumption of the ALU with 58 - 57% with a propagation delay penalty of 346 - 143% depending of the sizing of the power gating transistors