Search

Denne bacheloroppgaven handler om hvordan man kan bruke en kombinasjon av digitale verktøy, manuelle målinger og dataanalyse til å vurdere det miljømessige og økonomiske beslutningsgrunnlaget for ombruk av eldre låvematerialer. Den norske boligmassen, næringsbygg og industri står fortsatt for en betydelig mengde av det totale energi og materialforbruket. Av alt treavfall som ble levert i 2021 gikk 72% av dette til forbrenning og resten til materialgjenvinning. Dette er en positiv utvikling ifra 2020, da var andelen 87 prosent forbrent avfall (Miljøstatus, 2022). Det er avfallsmessig fortsatt mye å hente og denne oppgaven er laget for å støtte overgangen ifra lineær til sirkulær økonomi. Omtre AS og prosjektet SirkTRE har som mål å løfte byggenæringen og treindustrien ved å gjennomføre ulike arbeidspakker, som totalt sett skal fremme det grønne skiftet og øke andelen av returtre i byggeprosjekter. Denne oppgaven har som mål å besvare problemstillingen: Hvordan kan Scan to BIM forbedre det økonomiske og miljømessige beslutningsgrunnlaget for ombruk av eldre bygningsmaterialer? For å svare ut problemstillingen mest mulig har vi først jobbet med å kartlegge en gammel låve ved hjelp av 3D-skanning og manuelle fukt målinger. Disse dataene skal blant annet hjelpe oss å modellere, kategorisere og sortere de ulike bygningmaterialene. Videre har vi brukt kjente verktøy for å scenariomodellere beslutningsgrunnlaget for valgt låve. Punktskyen, medfølgende bilder og fukt analyse hjelper oss å kvantifisere hvilke materialer som egner seg til ombruk i sin helhet og hvilke som kan inngå til oppflisning. Egne kriterier er definert i oppgaven. For å gi myndigheter, boligeiere, bedrifter og andre interessenter større innsikt i hvilken påvirkning økonomisk og utslippsmessig ulike scenarioer gir, har vi innhentet antatte priser for returtre. I tillegg har vi vurdert CO2 avtrykket til nye potensielle ombruksprodukter og prosesser og sammenlignet dette mot nytt trevirke ved hjelp av LCA. Deretter ble det videre brukt til å sette opp ulike scenarioer for avhending og videre prosessering. Ved å sette opp scenarier på denne måten ble det enklere å forstå helheten ved det generelle beslutningsgrunnlaget for demontering, riving og produktevaluering til nye produkter ifra returtre i sammenligning ifra nytt tre. Oppgaven viste at ved å ha et godt datagrunnlag er det enklere å kvantifisere, planlegge og vurdere nye metoder, prosesser og produkter. Scan to BIM i kombinasjon med manuelle målinger og LCA gir oss altså god innsikt i hvilke materialer og avhendingsscenarioer vi kan bruke til hvilke prosesser/produkter. Resultatene viser dermed at Scan to BIM er en egnet metode å forbedre det økonomiske og miljømessige beslutningsgrunnlaget. This bachelor’s thesis is about how to use a combination of digital tools, manual measurements, and data analysis to assess the environmental and economic decision-making basis for the reuse of older barn materials. The norwegian housing stock, commercial buildings and industry still account for a significant amount of the total energy and material consumption. Of all wood waste delivered in 2021, 72% of this went to incineration and the rest to material recycling. This is a positive development from 2020, when the proportion was 87% incinerated waste (Miljøstatus, 2022). In terms of waste, there is still a lot to improve, and this thesis is designed to support the transition from a linear to a circular economy. Omtre AS and the project SirkTRE aim to lift the construction industry and the wood industry by carrying out various work packages, which overall will promote the green shift and increase the proportion of recycled wood in construction projects. The aim of this thesis is to answer the following question: How can Scan to BIM improve the economic and environmental decision-making basis for the reuse of older building materials? To answer the thesis as best as possible, we first worked on mapping out an old barn using 3D-scanning and manual moisture measurements. Among other things, this data will help us to model, categorize and sort the various building materials. Furthermore, we have used known tools to model the decision-making basis for the chosen barn. The point cloud, accompanying images and moisture analysis help us quantify which materials are suitable for re-use in their entirety and which can be used for chipping. Own criteria are defined in the assignment. In order to give authorities, homeowners, companies and other stakeholders greater insight into the economic and emissions related impact of different scenarios, we have obtained assumed prices for reclaimed wood. In addition, we have assessed the CO2 footprint of new potential materials and processes/products using LCA. This was then further used to set up various scenarios for disposal and further processing. By setting up scenarios in this way, it became easier to understand the entirety of the general decision-making basis for disassembly, demolition and product evaluation for new products from reclaimed wood. The assignment showed that by having a good data basis it is easier to quantify, plan and assess new methods, processes and products. Scan to BIM in combination with manual measurements and LCA gives us thereby a good insight into which materials we can use for which processes/products. The results thus show that Scan to BIM is a suitable method to improve the economic and environmental basis for decision making.

Calprotectin (S100A8/A9), a protein expressed in neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages in circulation and inflamed tissue, is associated with measures of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients both when measured in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-plasma and in serum. We wanted to explore if EDTA-plasma or serum should be preferred for calprotectin as a marker of disease activity. Calprotectin was analysed in EDTA-plasma and serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at baseline in 141 RA patients, starting biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs), and after three months. Differences between plasma and serum levels of calprotectin were assessed by Wilcoxon signed rank test. Variability was assessed by quartile coefficient of dispersion. Spearman's test explored correlations between calprotectin in plasma and serum and between calprotectin (plasma or serum) and clinical/ultrasound (US) measures of disease activity. Bland Altman plots were used for method comparisons. Conventional inflammatory markers were evaluated for comparison. Calprotectin had similar variability when measured in plasma and serum, but there was a significant difference in concentrations between plasma and serum (p .001). The correlation coefficients at baseline between calprotectin measured in plasma/serum and measures of disease activity were r

Masteroppgave revisjon og regnskap BE508 - Universitetet i Agder 2018 Formålet med denne masterutredningen er å undersøke hvilken innvirkning digitalisering i revisjon kan ha på revisor som allmennhetens tillitsperson. Dette er utført ved å undersøke om der er noen sammenhenger mellom digitalisering i revisjonsprosessen, digitaliseringens innvirkning på revisjonskvalitet, og revisor som allmennhetens tillitsperson. Digitalisering har store innvirkninger på både revisjonsbransjen og næringslivet for øvrig. Bruk av nye digitale verktøy i revisjon vil endre revisors hverdag betydelig. Bransjen indikerer imidlertid flere regulatoriske utfordringer ved digitalisering i revisjon, hvor ISA-ene ikke åpner for bruk av revolusjonerende teknologi. En tyder klar usikkerhet for hvordan innvirkning digitalisering potensielt kan ha på revisjon, og hvordan det vil forme revisors rolle i fremtiden. For å sikre høy tillit til finansiell rapportering krever standardene at revisjonsbevis skal være tilstrekkelig og hensiktsmessig. Funnene i utredningen tilsier at digitalisering i revisjon vil gi en høyere revisjonskvalitet, først og fremst ved at nye analyseverktøy vil åpne for å teste hele populasjoner. Dette betyr at risiko knyttet til tilstrekkelighet vil bli lavere. Nye digitale verktøy vil i tillegg åpne for å sikre høy hensiktsmessighet, ved at revisor vil teste flere påstander i regnskapet, uten å bruke mer ressurser. Implikasjoner omhandler at dette vil endre revisjonsprosessen og revisjonshandlinger fra identifisering av enkeltavvik som projiseres på populasjonen, til identifisering av trender og mønster. Dette vil føre til en mer risikostyrt revisjon, og vil således påvirke revisjon og revisors rolle. Våre funn og konklusjon indikerer ingen klare sammenhenger mellom høyere revisjonskvalitet som følge av digitalisering i revisjon, og tilliten til revisor.

Immunological methods have been developed for quantitation of a protein, provisionally called L1, which constitutes about 5% of the total protein in granulocytes. The protein has a mol wt of about 51000 daltons and an isoelectric point of about 6.3–6.5. It is readily released from leucocytes during storage and following immunological injury to the cell membrane. The concentration of L1 in normal plasma is about 300 ng/ml, but levels above the normal mean + 5 SD were found in 23 out of 30 patients with various malignant diseases and in 4 patients with septicaemia. It is suggested that plasma levels of L1 may reflect the rate of leucocyte turnover in vivo and that the L1 release phenomenon may be used for studies on leucocyte reactions in vitro.

Haemostasis parameters alone are often insufficient in distinguishing between disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and liver disease. We have determined the concentration of five additional plasma proteins in 6 patients with DIC and 10 patients with liver disease. All patients had antithrombin III (AT) and normotest (NT) levels at 60 per cent or lower. Prealbumin and albumin were clearly subnormal in all patients with similar mean values in both two groups. It is suggested that this might reflect insufficient protein synthesis even in the patients with DIC. The mean fibronectin concentration was somewhat lower in DIC than in the group with liver disease. C reactive protein (CRP) and the leucocyte derived protein LI were much higher in the DIC patients, probably reflecting the underlying infection.

Heparin cofactor activity and antithrombin III (At-III) concentration were measured in plasma from 219 healthy men and 177 women. Narrow ranges for heparin cofactor activity and At-III concentration were found. The standard deviation for heparin cofactor activity in men and women was 8.6 and 10.1, respectively, for At-III concentration 10.4 and 12.5 In men, mean heparin cofactor activity and mean At-III concentration decreased significantly with increasing age. In women, mean heparin cofactor activity and mean At-III concentration tended to be lower in fertile age. Hereditary At-III deficiency was detected in one individual.

Chromosome analysis was carried out in a consecutive series of 57 couples with a history of recurrent miscarriage. All 114 subjects from these couples had normal karyotypes by conventional analysis. Pi typing was performed in 30 couples. The constellation of Pi heterozygosity in both partners occurred in two of the couples. The expected frequencies of the observed MS-MS and MS-MZ constellations occurring by chance would be 2.1 per 1,000 and 2.2 per 1,000 couples, respectively.

Schizophrenia is associated with a number of pathological changes, including alterations in levels of specific proteins. Calprotectin is a novel 36 kDa calcium-binding protein of the S100 family and appears to be a nonspecific marker of inflammation. Calprotectin has not previously been investigated in brain tissue. Samples of post-mortem brain tissue from Brodmann area 9 were obtained from prefrontal cortex from subjects with schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, major depression, and from controls. Calprotectin levels were determined by ELISA. To determine cellular localization, immunocytochemical and fluorescent double-labelling analyses were performed. Exogenous calprotectin was added to retinoic acid-differentiated human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell cultures in order to investigate mechanisms of action of calprotectin. Calprotectin was detectable in all samples, and mean levels were noted to be highest in schizophrenic brains (P < 0.05) and lowest in controls. Levels were intermediate in bipolar affective disorder and major depression. Exogenous calprotectin appeared to induce dendritic extension in SH-SY5Y cell culture in a dose-dependent manner. Calprotectin was found to be localized to microglia. These findings suggest that increased levels of calprotecitn in the brain may reflect inflammatory processes, which play a role in the pathogenesis of major psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, calprotectin may influence dendritic plasticity.

Calprotectin, a major cytosolic protein of leukocytes, is detected in neutrophils, monocytes/macrophages, and epithelial cells. This protein is known to be a marker for several inflammatory diseases and is detected in inflammatory gingival tissue with periodontal disease. Recently, we found that the calprotectin level in gingival crevicular fluid from periodontitis patients was significantly higher than that of healthy subjects. However, the regulation of calprotectin in periodontal disease is unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effect of lipopolysaccharides of periodontopathic bacteria on calprotectin release from human neutrophils. Neutrophils from healthy donors were treated with lipopolysaccharides from Porphyromonas gingivalis (P-LPS), Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Escherichia coli. Calprotectin of neutrophil was identified by immunoblotting and calprotectin amount was determined by ELISA. Two subunits (10 and 14 kDa) of calprotectin were observed in the cell and medium fractions from neutrophils. P-LPS increased calprotectin release from seven to 16 times the control level after 30 min and its effect appeared in a dose-dependent manner (10-1000 ng/ml). Lipopolysaccharides from A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. intermedia, F. nucleatum, and E. coli also induced calprotectin release from neutrophils. These results suggest that lipopolysaccharides from periodontopathic bacteria induce calprotectin release from human neutrophils.

The mechanisms by which the lifestyle risk factors obesity, physical inactivity, and low fiber intake predispose to colorectal cancer (CRC) are unclear. Chronic bowel inflammation predisposes to malignancy in cases of inflammatory bowel disease. Many lifestyle risk factors for CRC are associated with evidence of systemic inflammation as indicated by circulating levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), but it is unknown how this relates to inflammation at tissue level. Little is known about the degree of bowel inflammation in general population and the factors that affect it. Therefore, we aimed to assess the relation of levels of bowel inflammation in the general population and lifestyle risk factors for CRC, and to additionally assess whether these associations, if present, were attenuated by controlling for evidence of systemic inflammation. Average CRC risk subjects (320) of either sex aged 50–70 were recruited in South London. A stool sample was provided for calprotectin measurement (a marker of bowel inflammation), serum for CRP, and a detailed dietary and lifestyle questionnaire completed. There was a significant positive relationship between fecal calprotectin and increasing age (P = 0.002), obesity (P = 0.04), physical inactivity (P = 0.01), and an inverse relationship with fiber intake (P = 0.02) and vegetable consumption (P = 0.04). The relationship with obesity was attenuated by controlling for serum CRP. Fecal calprotectin levels are associated with lifestyle risk factors for colorectal cancer. Low-level asymptomatic bowel inflammation may be the link between lifestyle and the pathogenesis of CRC, and circulating proinflammatory cytokines may be part of the mechanism for this link.

Non-invasive diagnostic tools to evaluate the severity of acute, radiation-induced proctitis are not readily available. The faecal excretion of eight markers of gut inflammation was therefore examined. Five proteins and three lipid derivates were analysed in sequential stool samples taken before and during radiation therapy.Stool samples from 15 patients with prostate cancer scheduled for radiation therapy were examined. Pretreatment and in-treatment samples (2nd and 6th weeks) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (calprotectin, lactoferrin, transferrin, leukotriene B4, prostaglandin E2, thromboxane B2 and TNF alpha) or nephelometry (alpha 1-antitrypsin).Calprotectin and lactoferrin concentrations increased significantly during radiation treatment (P = 0.0005 and P = 0.019). Transferrin was detected in only 9 out of 45 samples. There were no changes in tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), leukotriene B4, prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane B2 during treatment. alpha 1-antitrypsin could not be detected in any sample.This study indicates that faecal calprotectin and lactoferrin concentrations could be markers of acute, radiation-induced proctitis. Patient compliance and stability of the markers make this a promising method for clinical research. Eicosanoids could be measured in stool samples, but the concentrations did not increase with increasing radiation dose.

Objectives Calprotectin is a cytosolic protein with antibacterial action in leukocytes and its level increases in some inflammatory diseases, including periodontal diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis. Recently, we found that the lipopolysaccharide of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P-LPS) induced calprotectin release from human neutrophils. P-LPS, a major virulence factor of periodontal pathogens, is known to induce the production and release of inflammatory cytokines through CD14, Toll-like receptor (TLR) and nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB). In the present study, we investigated whether calprotectin release by P-LPS is induced via the CD14-TLR-NF-kappaB pathway and the cellular mechanism of calprotectin release in human neutrophils. Material and methods Human neutrophils were isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy donors and pre-incubated in medium containing antibodies against CD14, TLR2 and TLR4, or several inhibitors of NF-kappaB, microtubules and microfilaments, and then incubated with P-LPS. The calprotectin amount in the culture medium was determined using ELISA, and the nuclear extracts from cells were used for the examination of NF-kappaB binding activity using electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Results P-LPS increased calprotectin release from neutrophils and its induction was inhibited by anti-CD14 and anti-TLR2 antibodies, but not by two anti-TLR4 antibodies. NF-kappaB inhibitors suppressed P-LPS-induced NF-kappaB binding activity and calprotectin release. The inhibitors of microtubule and microfilament polymerization significantly decreased P-LPS-induced calprotectin release. Conclusion These results suggest that calprotectin release is induced by P-LPS via the CD14-TLR2-NF-kappaB signal pathway in human neutrophils and may be dependent on microtubule and microfilament systems.

Calprotectin is a calcium and zinc binding protein of the S100 family derived predominantly from neutrophils and monocytes. It is detectable in body fluids and tissue samples and is emerging as a valuable marker in the diagnosis, and the monitoring and determining of the prognosis of commonly encountered gastroenterological conditions. Fecal calprotectin, in particular, has for a long time been regarded as a promising marker of gastrointestinal pathology and has now been established as a routine test in Norway and at several centers in the UK.

Background The calcium-binding protein S100A12 correlates with measures of disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The protein reflects neutrophil activation and the present objective was to explore in a pilot study the associations between S100A12 and other inflammatory markers, clinical assessments as well as degree of synovitis detected by a comprehensive ultrasonography (US) examination in RA patients during biologic treatment. Methods Twenty patients with RA were examined clinically and by use of US as well as laboratory markers S100A12, calprotectin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) before starting adalimumab, with follow-up after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Ultrasonographic B-mode (BM) and power Doppler (PD) assessments of 78 joints, 36 tendons/tendon groups and 2 bursas were performed, and sum US scores calculated. Wilcoxon signed rank test assessed treatment response and Spearman rank correlation test was used to calculate correlations. Results The concentrations of S100A12 decreased after 3 months (p

We examined whether early radiation-induced granulocyte transmigration (assessed by the fecal transferrin excretion ELISA assay) predicts subsequent development of (consequential) chronic radiation enteropathy. After accounting for the effect of radiation dose, transferrin excretion remained an independent predictor of overall tissue injury, intestinal fibrosis, and mucosal ulcers, but not TGF-β immunoreactivity.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS—Assessing the presence and degree of intestinal inflammation objectively, simply, and reliably is a significant problem in gastroenterology. We assessed faecal excretion of calprotectin, a stable neutrophil specific marker, as an index of intestinal inflammation and its potential use as a screening test to discriminate between patients with Crohn's disease and those with irritable bowel syndrome. METHODS—The validity of faecal calprotectin as a marker of intestinal inflammation was assessed in 22 patients with Crohn's disease (35 studies) by comparing faecal excretions and concentrations using four day faecal excretion of 111indium white cells. A cross sectional study assessed the sensitivity of faecal calprotectin concentration for the detection of established Crohn's disease (n=116). A prospective study assessed the value of faecal calprotectin in discriminating between patients with Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome in 220 patients referred to a gastroenterology clinic. RESULTS—Four day faecal excretion of 111indium (median 8.7%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 7-17%; normal

Antithrombin III (At-III), α2-macroglobulin and fibrinogen have been followed for 4 weeks after cessation of warfarin treatment in 20 individuals. There were no significant changes in fibrinogen or α2-macroglobulin levels. At-III decreased significantly in serum and in plasma. It is suggested that these changes reflect a low grade continuous coagulation which was suppressed during anticoagulant treatment.

BACKGROUNDThe diagnosis of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) induced enteropathy is difficult, requiring enteroscopy or the use of four day faecal excretion of 111In labelled white cells.AIMSTo assess faecal calprotectin (a non-degraded neutrophil cytosolic protein) as a method for diagnosing NSAID enteropathy.METHODSSingle stool faecal calprotectin concentrations were compared with the four day faecal excretion of 111In labelled white cells in 47 patients taking NSAIDs. The prevalence and severity of NSAID enteropathy was assessed using this method in 312 patients (192 with rheumatoid arthritis, 65 with osteoarthritis, 55 with other conditions) taking 18 different NSAIDs.RESULTSThe four day faecal excretion of 111In white cells correlated significantly with faecal calprotectin concentrations. In the group of 312 patients on NSAIDs faecal calprotectin concentrations were significantly higher than in controls, the prevalence of NSAID enteropathy being 44%. The prevalence and severity of NSAID enteropathy was independent of the particular type or dose of NSAID being taken or other patient variables.CONCLUSIONSAssay of faecal calprotectin provides a simple practical method for diagnosing NSAID enteropathy in man. Forty four per cent of patients receiving these drugs had NSAID induced enteropathy when assessed by this technique; 20% of these had comparable levels of inflammation to that previously reported in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

The incidence of atherosclerosis is significantly increased in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Infection is one factor that may be involved in the pathogenesis of both diseases. The cause of RA and atherosclerosis is unknown, and infection is one of the factors that may be involved in the pathogenesis of both diseases. The aims of this study were to identify bacteria in the aortic adventitia of patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the presence and absence of RA, and to determine the effect of identified candidate pathogens on Toll-like receptor (TLR)-dependent signalling and the proinflammatory response. The aortic adventitia of 11 CVD patients with RA (RA+CVD) and 11 CVD patients without RA (CVD) were collected during coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Bacteria were detected in four samples from CVD patients and three samples from RA+CVD patients and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Methylobacterium oryzae was identified in all three RA+CVD samples, representing 44.1% of the bacterial flora. The effect of M. oryzae on TLR-dependent signalling was determined by transfection of HEK-293 cells. Although mild TLR2 signalling was observed, TLR4 was insensitive to M. oryzae. Human primary macrophages were infected with M. oryzae, and a TLDA qPCR array targeting 90 genes involved in inflammation and immune regulation was used to profile the transcriptional response. A significant proinflammatory response was observed, with many of the up-regulated genes encoding proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) and chemokines (CCR7, IL-8). The aortic adventitia of CVD patients contains a wide range of bacterial species, and the bacterial flora is significantly less diverse in RA+CVD than CVD patients. M. oryzae may stimulate an proinflammatory response that may aggravate and perpetuate the pathological processes underlying atherosclerosis in RA patients.

Inflammatory cells are involved in the pathogenesis of tissue injury through release of cytokines and biologically active compounds. This study used a novel, noninvasive method to assess the association between granulocyte transmigration and structural and molecular changes in radiation enteropathy. A 4 cm loop of rat small intestine was exposed to 0, 2.8, 12, or 23 Gy localized irradiation. Feces was collected in metabolic cages before and 3, 7, 14, 28, and 42 days after irradiation. Granulocyte marker protein (GMP) was measured in buffer extracts of feces by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Irradiated and shielded intestine were procured at 2 and 26 weeks and assessed for histopathologic injury [radiation injury score (RIS)], ED-2 positive macrophages, and interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) positive cells. Irradiated intestine exhibited characteristic histopathologic alterations and increased numbers of macrophages and IL-1 alpha positive cells. There was a highly significant dose-dependent increase in post-radiation GMP (P < 0.0001). Maximal GMP excretion occurred 3-7 days after irradiation. Six weeks after irradiation, GMP excretion had returned to normal in the 2.8 and 12 Gy groups, but was still 3.5 times higher in the 23 Gy group than in controls. The associations between early GMP excretion and RIS and fibrosis at 26 weeks were highly significant (P < 0.001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). Post-radiation granulocyte transmigration is dose-dependent and correlates with structural and molecular changes, as well as with subsequent chronic injury. The GMP assay is a sensitive, non-invasive indicator of acute intestinal radiation injury and a promising biological predictor of chronic toxicity. Our data underscore the importance of consequential mechanisms in radiation enteropathy.