Sexual harassment and eating disorders in female elite athletes - A controlled study

The aims were to examine the percentage of female elite athletes and controls reporting sexual harassment and abuse (SHAB), and whether a higher percentage of female athletes with eating disorders (ED) had experienced SHAB. A questionnaire was administered to the total population of female elite athletes (n=660) and controls (n=780) aged 15-39 years. SHAB were measured through 11 questions, ranging from light to severe SHAB. In addition, questions about dietary-, menstrual- and training history and the Eating Disorder Inventory were included. The response rate was 88% for athletes and 71% for controls. Athletes (n=121) and controls (n=81) classified as “at risk” for ED and non-ED controls participated in a clinical interview. A higher percentage of controls, compared with athletes reported experiences of SHAB in general (59% vs. 51%, p<0.001). A lower percentage of athletes had experienced SHAB in sports than outside sport (28% vs.39%, p<0.001). A higher percentage of ED athletes than non-ED athletes had experienced SHAB (66% vs.48%) (p<0.01), both inside sport and outside sport. In spite of the fact that a higher percentage of controls compared with athletes had experienced SHAB, it is necessary to formulate clear guidelines, set up educational workshops and implement intervention programs for both ED and SHAB in sport

Electrification of the Norwegian continental shelf: Discursive practices from the key actors How do the key actors perceive electrification of the NCS?

A ‘renationalisation’ of Norwegian climate policy, shifting from a global to a domestic approach to meet a 55 % emissions reduction target, also centres the debate towards Norway's biggest emitters of greenhouse gases: the petroleum industry on the Norwegian continental shelf. Just what exactly does “all emissions cuts to be made at home” mean for the petroleum industry? A question to which the industry proposes electrification of the Norwegian continental shelf as a preferred strategy and solution to the problem of increasing emissions. Norway's economic dependency on the petroleum industry also adds to the tension in this respect. As a climate policy topic, it captivates industry actors, politicians, environmental organisations, state bureaucracy, and the public. According to discourse theory, discourses carry a significant role in societal power structures. Thus, a perspective on the discursive practices of key industry actors, politicians, policy makers, and environmental organisations can provide valuable insights to nudge the transition towards the necessary measures to meet the emissions reduction target. The thesis executes three angles of inquiry: 1. looking at the Norwegian climate policy (both past and current) and how the electrification of the Norwegian continental shelf arises as a strategy; 2. the discursive practices and story lines of central actors within the field of electrification; and 3. the official climate policies on electrification as a strategy to reach climate targets. With these inquiries, the study aims to give insights into whether and to what extent the electrification of the Norwegian continental shelf is an appropriate measure to reach the 55 % emission cuts target by 2030. We adopt a discourse analysis framework and approach to our study, consisting of 13 key actor interviews and document analysis to detect story lines and discourses on the topic. The analysis finds many narratives that are categorised and condensed into five main story lines, one of which emerges as dominant. Based on the interviews with representatives from central actors, in addition to document analysis surrounding topic, the five storylines are: SL1: Full on electrification SL2: Electrification, yes, but? SL3: Yes, but by other means SL4: Shut it down! SL5: Forget About Norway! The first four story lines focus on reductions in CO2 emissions in Norway, while the fifth focuses on the international mechanisms of purchasing CO2 quotas abroad, instead of taking national emission reductions. We therefore find that most actors in our study argue for reducing emissions nationally, instead of using the international mechanism, which is a shift from the early 2000s. The study finds the second storyline, “Electrification, yes, but?” as dominant and almost hegemonic. Given its support by the most influential parties in parliament, on both sides of the political left-right spectrum, it's embedded in the state bureaucracy and can gain support from the SL1 and SL3 storylines. The SL2 storyline is a sort of middle-ground storyline that seems strategic in its purpose, due to its great flexibility to those who must defend their actions regarding electrification. The thesis finds enabling and constraining aspects in the dominant story line, as well as discourse coalition and institutionalisation, consistent with certain characteristics of discourses. Furthermore, the study finds the discourse around the electrification of the Norwegian continental shelf to be volatile and abundantly dynamic, of which many actors have changed their position in the last decade. The concluding remarks of the thesis find that the dominant storyline, although influenced by factors such as prices on CO2 emissions and electricity prices, also falls subject to some nuances of greenwashing, legitimising oil and gas activities in the domestic political landscape as a way of securing a “license to operate”.A ‘renationalisation’ of Norwegian climate policy, shifting from a global to a domestic approach to meet a 55 % emissions reduction target, also centres the debate towards Norway's biggest emitters of greenhouse gases: the petroleum industry on the Norwegian continental shelf. Just what exactly does “all emissions cuts to be made at home” mean for the petroleum industry? A question to which the industry proposes electrification of the Norwegian continental shelf as a preferred strategy and solution to the problem of increasing emissions. Norway's economic dependency on the petroleum industry also adds to the tension in this respect. As a climate policy topic, it captivates industry actors, politicians, environmental organisations, state bureaucracy, and the public. According to discourse theory, discourses carry a significant role in societal power structures. Thus, a perspective on the discursive practices of key industry actors, politicians, policy makers, and environmental organisations can provide valuable insights to nudge the transition towards the necessary measures to meet the emissions reduction target. The thesis executes three angles of inquiry: 1. looking at the Norwegian climate policy (both past and current) and how the electrification of the Norwegian continental shelf arises as a strategy; 2. the discursive practices and story lines of central actors within the field of electrification; and 3. the official climate policies on electrification as a strategy to reach climate targets. With these inquiries, the study aims to give insights into whether and to what extent the electrification of the Norwegian continental shelf is an appropriate measure to reach the 55 % emission cuts target by 2030. We adopt a discourse analysis framework and approach to our study, consisting of 13 key actor interviews and document analysis to detect story lines and discourses on the topic. The analysis finds many narratives that are categorised and condensed into five main story lines, one of which emerges as dominant. Based on the interviews with representatives from central actors, in addition to document analysis surrounding topic, the five storylines are: SL1: Full on electrification SL2: Electrification, yes, but? SL3: Yes, but by other means SL4: Shut it down! SL5: Forget About Norway! The first four story lines focus on reductions in CO2 emissions in Norway, while the fifth focuses on the international mechanisms of purchasing CO2 quotas abroad, instead of taking national emission reductions. We therefore find that most actors in our study argue for reducing emissions nationally, instead of using the international mechanism, which is a shift from the early 2000s. The study finds the second storyline, “Electrification, yes, but?” as dominant and almost hegemonic. Given its support by the most influential parties in parliament, on both sides of the political left-right spectrum, it's embedded in the state bureaucracy and can gain support from the SL1 and SL3 storylines. The SL2 storyline is a sort of middle-ground storyline that seems strategic in its purpose, due to its great flexibility to those who must defend their actions regarding electrification. The thesis finds enabling and constraining aspects in the dominant story line, as well as discourse coalition and institutionalisation, consistent with certain characteristics of discourses. Furthermore, the study finds the discourse around the electrification of the Norwegian continental shelf to be volatile and abundantly dynamic, of which many actors have changed their position in the last decade. The concluding remarks of the thesis find that the dominant storyline, although influenced by factors such as prices on CO2 emissions and electricity prices, also falls subject to some nuances of greenwashing, legitimising oil and gas activities in the domestic political landscape as a way of securing a “license to operate”.

Electrification of the Norwegian continental shelf: Discursive practices from the key actors How do the key actors perceive electrification of the NCS?

A ‘renationalisation’ of Norwegian climate policy, shifting from a global to a domestic approach to meet a 55 % emissions reduction target, also centres the debate towards Norway's biggest emitters of greenhouse gases: the petroleum industry on the Norwegian continental shelf. Just what exactly does “all emissions cuts to be made at home” mean for the petroleum industry? A question to which the industry proposes electrification of the Norwegian continental shelf as a preferred strategy and solution to the problem of increasing emissions. Norway's economic dependency on the petroleum industry also adds to the tension in this respect. As a climate policy topic, it captivates industry actors, politicians, environmental organisations, state bureaucracy, and the public. According to discourse theory, discourses carry a significant role in societal power structures. Thus, a perspective on the discursive practices of key industry actors, politicians, policy makers, and environmental organisations can provide valuable insights to nudge the transition towards the necessary measures to meet the emissions reduction target. The thesis executes three angles of inquiry: 1. looking at the Norwegian climate policy (both past and current) and how the electrification of the Norwegian continental shelf arises as a strategy; 2. the discursive practices and story lines of central actors within the field of electrification; and 3. the official climate policies on electrification as a strategy to reach climate targets. With these inquiries, the study aims to give insights into whether and to what extent the electrification of the Norwegian continental shelf is an appropriate measure to reach the 55 % emission cuts target by 2030. We adopt a discourse analysis framework and approach to our study, consisting of 13 key actor interviews and document analysis to detect story lines and discourses on the topic. The analysis finds many narratives that are categorised and condensed into five main story lines, one of which emerges as dominant. Based on the interviews with representatives from central actors, in addition to document analysis surrounding topic, the five storylines are: SL1: Full on electrification SL2: Electrification, yes, but? SL3: Yes, but by other means SL4: Shut it down! SL5: Forget About Norway! The first four story lines focus on reductions in CO2 emissions in Norway, while the fifth focuses on the international mechanisms of purchasing CO2 quotas abroad, instead of taking national emission reductions. We therefore find that most actors in our study argue for reducing emissions nationally, instead of using the international mechanism, which is a shift from the early 2000s. The study finds the second storyline, “Electrification, yes, but?” as dominant and almost hegemonic. Given its support by the most influential parties in parliament, on both sides of the political left-right spectrum, it's embedded in the state bureaucracy and can gain support from the SL1 and SL3 storylines. The SL2 storyline is a sort of middle-ground storyline that seems strategic in its purpose, due to its great flexibility to those who must defend their actions regarding electrification. The thesis finds enabling and constraining aspects in the dominant story line, as well as discourse coalition and institutionalisation, consistent with certain characteristics of discourses. Furthermore, the study finds the discourse around the electrification of the Norwegian continental shelf to be volatile and abundantly dynamic, of which many actors have changed their position in the last decade. The concluding remarks of the thesis find that the dominant storyline, although influenced by factors such as prices on CO2 emissions and electricity prices, also falls subject to some nuances of greenwashing, legitimising oil and gas activities in the domestic political landscape as a way of securing a “license to operate”.

Period prevalence and perceived side Effects of hormonal contraceptive use and the menstrual cycle in elite athletes

Purpose: To identify the period prevalence of hormonal contraceptive (HC) use and characterise the perceived side effects associated with the menstrual cycle and HC use. Methods: 430 elite female athletes completed a questionnaire to assess; the period prevalence of HC use, the reasons for initiation and discontinuation of HCs and the side effects experienced by HC and non-HC users. Descriptive statistics, between-group comparisons and associations between categorical variables were calculated. Results: 49.5% of athletes were currently using HCs and 69.8% had used HCs at some point. Combined oral contraceptives were most commonly used (68.1%), with 30.0% using progestin-only contraceptives (implant = 13.1%; injection = 3.7%; intrauterine system = 2.8%). Perceived negative side effects were more common with progestin-only HC use (39.1%) compared to combined HC use (17.8%; P = 0.001) and were most prevalent in implant users (53.6%; P = 0.004). HC users reported perceived positive side effects relating to the ability to predict and/or manipulate the timing, frequency and amount of menstrual bleeding. Non-HC users had a menstrual cycle length of 29± 5 d and 77.4% reported negative side effects during their menstrual cycle, primarily during days 1-2 of menstruation (81.6%). Conclusions: Approximately half of elite athletes used HCs and progestin- only contraceptive users reported greater incidences of negative side effects, especially with the implant. Due to the high inter-individual variability in reported side effects, athletes and practitioners should maintain an open dialogue to pursue the best interests of the athlete

En kartlegging om utviklingen av langspente trebaserte etasjeskillere i Norge

Byggenæringen må som alle andre bransjer tilpasse seg det grønne skiftet og en mer bærekraftig fremtid. Et av tiltakene som er tilgjengelige er å øke bruken av trevirke i større prosjekter, til fortrinn for tradisjonelle byggematerialer som stål og betong. Imidlertid kan ikke dette praktiseres problemfritt, og bransjen står overfor flere utfordringer knyttet til bruk av trevirke i fleretasjes bygninger. Trebaserte etasjeskillere er et av områdene med et stort forbedringspotensial, og oppgavens formål er å undersøke de tilgjengelige systemene med utgangspunkt i å oppnå større spenn for å forbedre den arkitektoniske fleksibiliteten i prosjektene. Oppgaven kartlegger og undersøker utviklingen på det norske markedet, og hvor det er rom for forbedring. Studien tar utgangspunkt i følgende problemformulering: «Hva er status for utvikling og bruk av langspente trebaserte etasjeskillere i Norge?» Metodevalget er intervjuer med strategisk utvalgte eksperter, kombinert med litteraturstudie og evaluering av eksisterende kommersielle systemer og løsninger. Oppgaven kategoriserer inn i fire basisdekker, bjelkelag, massivtredekke, ribbedekke og bokselement. Kjente utfordringer som vibrasjoner, lyd, brann, og kostnader blir drøftet, med varierende ideer og vinklinger. Resultatene indikerer også at andre variabler enn konstruksjonsmessige utfordringer er avgjørende for utviklingen av systemene. Mangel på lett tilgjengelig informasjon for bestilleren, klare dokumentasjonskrav til systemene, og usikkerhet som følge av kompetansemangel er gjentakende problematikk. Det er også økt oppmerksomhet på massivtre i norsk byggebransje, spesielt i større konstruksjoner som et alternativ til betong. Å fokusere utelukkende på systemer av rent massivtre kan begrense innovasjon og vekst på feltet. Et bredere perspektiv, som tar hensyn til alternative løsninger, er nødvendig for utviklingen av mer effektive systemer. Det konkluderes med at det er fremgang og vekst på feltet, men at norsk byggebransje fortsatt har en vei å gå før den kan ta i bruk langspente trebaserte systemer problemfritt. Høy kompetanse er nødvendig for å utvikle og prosjektere gode systemer, og denne terskelen må senkes for å gjøre produktene mer tilgjengelige på markedet. Arbeid med nevnte problemstillinger er vesentlig for å sikre god fremgang.The construction industry, like all other industries, must adapt to the green shift and a more sustainable future. One of the available measures is to increase the use of timber in larger projects, to the advantage of traditional building materials such as steel and concrete. However, there is lots of obstacles to overcome, and the industry faces several challenges related to the use of timber in multi-story buildings. Timber floor systems are one of the areas with great potential for improvement, and the purpose of this thesis is to investigate the systems available with the focus on achieving greater span to improve the architectural flexibility in the projects. The assignment maps and examines the development of the Norwegian market, and where there is room for improvement. The following problem was formulated: "What is the status of the development and use of long-span timber floors in Norway?" The choice of method is interviews with strategically selected experts, combined with a literature study and evaluation of existing commercial systems and solutions. The study categorizes into four element types, joists, platform element, ribbed element and box element. Known challenges such as vibrations, sound, fire and costs are discussed, with varying ideas and perspectives. The results also indicate that variables other than construction-related challenges are crucial for development of the systems. Lack of easily accessible information for the orderer, clear documentation requirements for the systems, and uncertainty due to lack of expertise are recurring issues. There is also an increased focus on cross-laminated timber in the Norwegian construction industry, especially for use in larger constructions as an alternative to concrete. Focusing solely on cross-laminated timber systems may hinder growth in the field and limit innovation. A broader perspective that considers alternative solutions is necessary for the development of more efficient timber construction systems. The study arrives at the conclusion that there has been advancement and expansion within the field of long-span timber systems. However, the Norwegian construction industry has yet to reach a stage where the implementation of such systems can be achieved without impediments. It requires a high level of expertise to develop and design effective long-span systems, and current threshold must be minimized to enhance accessibility of these products within the market. To ensure satisfying progress, it is imperative that concerted efforts are made to address the aforementioned issues

Hvordan ble kvinnekroppen brukt som formidler i performancekunsten på 1960 og 1970-tallet? En analyse av performancene Meat Joy, Interior Scroll, Lips of Thomas og Cut Piece.

I denne masteroppgaven svarer jeg på problemstillingen «Hvordan ble kvinnekroppen brukt som formidler i performancekunsten på 1960 og 1970-tallet»? Dette gjør jeg ved å analysere fire performancer fra denne tidsperioden. Oppgaven består av en teoretisk del der jeg gjør rede for begreper og felt knyttet opp mot problemstillingen, samt en analyse av fire forskjellige performancer fra disse tiårene. Disse performancene er også analysert opp mot hverandre til slutt i oppgaven. Jeg starter med en innledning som forteller litt om meg selv og om hvorfor jeg valgte å fokusere på nettopp denne problemstillingen, det står litt om mine personlige erfaringer som kvinne, samt en mer generell tilnærming til kvinnekamp, som jeg syns er et veldig viktig tema. Deretter kommer det en utdypning av problemstillingen hvor jeg snakker litt om hvorfor jeg har valgt nettopp 1960 og 1970-tallet som de to tiårene jeg vil fokusere på samt en oppsummering av hvordan jeg har tenkt å gå frem, hvilke begreper jeg skal ta for meg og hvorfor jeg har valgt nettopp de fire performancene jeg har valgt. Etter disse innføringene i viktig tematikk knyttet opp mot min problemstilling begynner jeg på den analytiske delen av oppgaven. Det første jeg skriver om her er begrepet metode, en kort innføring i begrepets betydning og også hvilken metode jeg har tenkt å anvende i analysene mine. Jeg skriver videre om kasusstudier som er min valgte analytiske metode, jeg gir en kort forklaring på begrepets betydning samt en begrunnelse for hvorfor jeg har valgt nettopp denne. Så kommer vi til selve analysen, her vil jeg forklare begrepet analyse samt gjøre rede for den tematiske analyse-modellen jeg har valgt å bruke. Analysen er delt inn i fire hovedkategorier: «Kunstneren», «Kvinnekroppens funksjon i verket», «Kontekst» og «Mottagelse». Den første performancensen jeg tar for meg er «Meat Joy» av Carolee Schneeman, jeg fortsetter med verket «Interior scroll» av samme kunstner, deretter fortsetter jeg med «Lips of Thomas»av Marina Abramovic og avslutter med «Cut Piece» av Yoko Ono. Hver av disse perfromancene blir analysert ut fra de fire analysekategoriene. Avslutningsvis analyseres forskjeller og ulikheter mellom de fire performancene.. Oppgaven avsluttes med en konkludering av problemstillingen samt en oppsummering av de viktigste funnene og innsikten jeg har oppnådd denne masteroppgaven.In this master's thesis I answer the question "How was the female body used as an intermediary in performance art in the 1960s and 1970s"? I do this by analysing four performances from this time period. The thesis consists of a theoretical part where I explain concepts and fields related to the problem, as well as an analysis of four different performances from these decades. These performances are also analyzed against each other at the end of the thesis. I start with an introduction that tells a little about myself and why I chose to focus on this particular issue, it says a little about my personal experiences as a woman, as well as a more general approach to women's struggle, which I think is a very important topic. Then there is an elaboration of the issue where I talk a little about why I have chosen precisely the 1960s and 1970s as the two decades I want to focus on as well as a summary of how I intend to proceed, what concepts to address and why I have chosen precisely the four performances I have chosen. After these introductions to important topics related to my problem, I start with the analytical part of the thesis. The first thing I write about here is the concept of method, a brief introduction to the meaning of the term and also what method I intend to use in my analyses. I write further about case studies that are my chosen analytical method, I give a brief explanation of the meaning of the term as well as a justification for why I have chosen this particular one. Then we get to the analysis itself, here I will explain the concept of analysis as well as explain the thematic analysis model I have chosen to use. The analysis is divided into four main categories: "The Artist", "The Function of the Female Body in the Work", "Context" and "Reception". The first performance analyze is Meat Joy by Carolee Schneeman, I continue with the work Interior scroll by the same artist, then proceed with Lips of Thomas by Marina Abramovic and finish with Cut Piece by Yoko Ono. Each of these performances is analyzed based on the four categories of analysis. In conclusion, differences and similarities between the four performances are also analysed. The thesis concludes with a conclusion of the problem as well as a summary of the most important findings and insights I have achieved with this master's thesis

Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) Indicators in Male Adolescent Endurance Athletes: A 3-Year Longitudinal Study

Longitudinal measurements of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) among adolescent male elite athletes are lacking. We aimed to monitor REDs indicators and their possible impact on performance in elite high-school cross-country skiing and biathlon athletes (n = 13) (16.3 ± 0.4 years, 179.4 ± 7.6 cm, 63.6 ± 8.2 kg body mass (BM), and peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak): 61.5 ± 5.3 mL/kg BM/min) every 6 months for 3 years. Protocols included assessments of energy availability (EA), body composition and bone mineral density (BMD), resting metabolic rate (RMR), disordered eating behavior, exercise addiction, VO2peak, and muscle strength. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed model. At baseline, 38% had low lumbar BMD (Z-score ≤ −1), and overall, bone health increased only slightly. VO2peak and muscle strength improved (p < 0.001), RMR decreased (p = 0.016), and no change was observed in EA or physiological or psychological REDs indicators. Conclusively, many of these young male athletes had poor bone health at baseline, and most either lost or did not achieve the expected pubertal bone mineral accrual, although no other indication of REDs was observed, while performance improved during the study period. Our findings highlight the importance of elite sports high schools focusing on screening for early detection of impaired bone health in male athletes.publishedVersio

Postmenopausal women with osteopenia and a healed wrist fracture have reduced physical function and quality of life compared to a matched, healthy control group with no fracture

© 2014 Hakestad et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.Background: Fractures lead to reduced physical function and quality of life (QOL), but little is known about postmenopausal women with osteopenia and a healed wrist fracture. The purpose was to evaluate physical function in terms of quadriceps strength, dynamic balance, physical capacity and QOL in postmenopausal women with osteopenia and a healed wrist fracture compared to a matched, healthy control group with no previous fracture. Methods: Eighteen postmenopausal women with osteopenia (patients) (mean age 59.1 years, range 54 – 65) and a healed wrist fracture were matched to 18 healthy control subjects on age (mean age 58.5 years, range 51 – 65), height, weight and body mass index (BMI). We measured quadriceps strength at 60°/sec and at 180°/sec with Biodex 6000, dynamic balance with the Four Square Step Test (FSST), physical capacity with the six-minute walk test (6MWT) followed by the Borg’s scale (BS), and QOL with the Short Form 36 (SF-36), bone mineral density (BMD) with dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and physical activity level with the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly. Results: The patients had 17.6% lower quadriceps strength at 60°/sec (p = 0.025) at left limb and 18.5% at 180°/sec (p = 0.016) at right limb, and 21% lower at 180°/sec (p = 0.010) at left limb compared to the controls. Impaired performance for the patients was found with 2.4 seconds (p = 0.002) on the FSST, 74 metres (p < 0.001) on the 6MWT, and 1.4 points (p = 0.003) on the BS compared to the controls. The patients scored lower on the sub-scales on the SF-36 role limitations-physical (p = 0.014), bodily pain (p = 0.025) and vitality (p = 0.015) compared to the controls. Conclusions: The patients with osteopenia and a healed wrist fracture scored significantly lower on quadriceps strength, dynamic balance, physical capacity and QOL compared to the matched controls. Greater focus should be put on this patient group in terms of rehabilitation and early prevention of subsequent fractures.Seksjon for idretssmedisinske fag / Department of Sports Medicin

Impact of a 4-Week Intensified Endurance Training Intervention on Markers of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) and Performance Among Well-Trained Male Cyclists

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