Norwegian University Research Articles

A bourdieusian CV from the Fringe of the Field

The author covers his long-lasting work on the social change of forms of capital in Scandinavia, expounding on methodological considerations (in particular, the combination of marxist thought and quantitative investigation of social phenomena) and the relationship between theory and research, standing by his decision to spend a whole career at a minor Norwegian university. The multidimensional analysis of compositions of capitals and the geometric modeling of data are explored as the most significant promise of Bourdieu's sociological approach. Written in the third person, the paper stresses the primacy of fields and impersonal forces over the individual agent.

Integrating simulation training during clinical practice in nursing homes: an experimental study of nursing students\u2019 knowledge acquisition, self-efficacy and learning needs

BackgroundLimited access to supervision, feedback and quality learning experiences pose challenges to learning in the clinical setting for first-year nursing students who are beginning their clinical experiences. Prior studies have indicated that simulation training, as a partial replacement of clinical practice hours, may improve learning. However, there has been little research on simulation training integrated as a partial replacement during first-year students’ clinical practice in nursing homes. The primary aim of this study was to examine first-year nursing students’ knowledge acquisition and self-efficacy in integrating a partial replacement of clinical hours in nursing homes with simulation training. Its secondary aim was to examine perceptions of how learning needs were met in the simulated environment compared with the clinical environment.DesignThe primary aim was addressed using an experimental design that included pre- and post-tests. The secondary aim was investigated using a descriptive survey-based comparison.MethodsFirst-year students at a Norwegian university college (n = 116) were asked to participate. Those who agreed (n = 103) were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 52) or the control group (n = 51). A knowledge test, the General Self-efficacy Scale and the Clinical Learning Environment Comparison Survey were used to measure students’ outcomes and perceptions. The data were analysed using independent samples t-tests, chi-square tests and paired samples t-tests.ResultsKnowledge scores from pre- to post-tests were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group with a medium to large effect size (p < 0.01, Hedges’ g = 0.6). No significant differences in self-efficacy were identified. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed between the simulated and the clinical environment with regard to meeting learning needs; effect sizes ranged from small and medium to large (Cohen’s d from 0.3 to 1.0).ConclusionIntegrating the partial replacement of clinical hours in nursing homes with simulation training for first-year nursing students was positively associated with knowledge acquisition and meeting learning needs. These findings are promising with regard to simulation as a viable partial replacement for traditional clinical practice in nursing homes to improve learning.

Learning in nursing home placement: A phenomenological study of student nurses' lived experience.

To explore first-year student nurses' lived experience of learning in clinical placement in nursing homes. Nursing homes traditionally represent students' first clinical placement sites during nurse education, and nursing home residents' care needs can provide opportunities for student nurses to acquire both fundamental and specialised nursing skills. In clinical placements, students have opportunities to apply and integrate theoretical knowledge, practical skills and ethical competence in a clinical setting. A qualitative design with a hermeneutic phenomenological approach was employed and reported in accordance with the COREQ guidelines. The study was undertaken at three nursing homes affiliated with one Norwegian university. Close observation (173h) and in-depth individual interviews (n = 7) with first-year student nurses were conducted to explore their lived experience of learning. Data analysis was guided by van Manen's hermeneutic phenomenological approach. The essential meaning of the phenomenon of learning in clinical placements in a nursing home setting is characterised by four themes: (1) navigating a new and complex learning context, (2) being emotionally affected when facing sickness and frailty, (3) having a vital need for support and guidance and (4) being engaged in learning. The findings are discussed against the backdrop of educational learning theory. Learning in clinical placements in nursing homes is a multi-faceted and complex phenomenon related to the students' lived experience on the contextual, relational and individual levels. Overall, our findings demonstrate that learning in clinical placements is part of the process of professional identity development. The clinical practice arena should emphasise emotional support for student nurses, enhance their self-directed reflection and explicitly focus on the essence of nursing in nursing homes.

“Hot Case-workers and Squint-eyed Whores” - Sexual Harassment of Norwegian Social- and Health Care Students in Practical Training

ABSTRACT Sexual harassment is a societal challenge. Youth, women, students, and health care professionals are some of the groups most at risk for experiencing sexual harassment. In this study, we examine how higher education institutions and practice institutions handle sexual harassment and how students in practical training experience and cope with sexual harassment. A survey and in-depth interviews were conducted among nursing students and social work students at one Norwegian university. Our results indicate that students experience sexual harassment during practice that is an obligatory part of training, that guidance and follow-up are often lacking, and that they experience negative consequences from these incidents. We also identified a range of strategies used to cope with SH, strategies that are not necessarily compatible with a sound development as a health care professional.

Shaping transnational learning positions and understanding social work in context–students’ experiences of a short-term exchange program

ABSTRACT Embedded in the discussions on how the internationalization of social work education can benefit concrete social work practices, which are inevitably contextual, this study analyzed students’ experiences of participating in a short-term exchange program between a Norwegian and Chinese university, and explored how they benefited from the program and international experience in terms of their professional development as social workers. The analysis builds upon data from participant observations, focus group interviews, and individual student essays. Using a transnational perspective, we argue that the exchange program with its joint teaching activities created ‘transnational learning positions’ through which the students developed critical reflections on the meaning of contexts in social work. The analysis demonstrates that transnational learning positions entail a process of repositioning through which the students, as learning subjects, are displaced from the familiar learning context and replaced into a position of uncertainty, which is shaped through their encounters with a different or contrasting context. This involves not only the physical encounters that result in embodied learnings of contextual differences, but also the intellectual encounters in the group discussions.

Real-time automatic feedback by deep learning to reduce apical foreshortening in echocardiography

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Norwegian University of Science and Technology, St. Olavs University Hospital, Central-Norway Health Authority Background Left ventricular (LV) foreshortening is common in echocardiography and may impair reproducibility and estimation of LV function. Feedback of foreshortening metrics such as LV length during scanning could improve accuracy, however, such a tool has not been available. Purpose To evaluate the effect of feedback of LV length during imaging for experienced sonographers, measured in real-time using a robust deep learning (DL) based tool. Methods Consecutive patients (n = 108) with mixed cardiac pathology were included during two separate periods. Each patient underwent three echocardiograms. The first and second examinations were performed by two (of three) randomized sonographers and the third exam by one (of four) randomized cardiologists. All examinations included the three standard apical views and the cardiologists’ exam included tri-plane recordings for reference. The data collection was divided in two phases. In the first period, the sonographers were told to provide high quality echocardiograms for analyses of LV function. Subsequently, sonographers were trained in use of the real-time DL tool on 10 patients each. In period two, the algorithm was used during scanning by the sonographer performing the second exam. One expert reader measured LV length (subendocardial apex to mitral annular plane) in all exams. The cardiologists’ tri-plane recordings were analyzed and used as reference. LV foreshortening was calculated at end-diastole (reference minus the operators LV length). Each exam was classified as foreshortened if the difference was ≥4 mm. Results After excluding those not in sinus rhythm (n = 9) and with need for contrast echocardiography (n = 11), 88 patients (45% women) were included (41 in period 1 and 47 in period 2). Age was mean (SD) 63 (16) years (45% women). Main findings are shown in the Table. LV length by both sonographer groups was significantly foreshortened in period 1 (mean 2.6 and 3.5 mm), and both sonographer groups reduced LV foreshortening in period 2 (both p ≤0.02). Improvement was best for sonographers using the real-time DL algorithm. These were not significantly foreshortened compared to the reference (p = 0.53), and less foreshortened compared to sonographer 1 (p = 0.001). Similarly, sonographers had more foreshortened examinations than cardiologist in period 1 (sonographer groups; 15 (37%) and 13 (32%) vs. cardiologist; 5 (12%), both p ≤0.03). In period 2, there was no difference in proportion of foreshortening between cardiologists and sonographer 2 (cardiologist; 0 vs sonographer; 2 (4%, p = 0.5)), while sonographer 1 foreshortened more 11 (23%), p ≤0.003). Conclusion Feedback of LV length during imaging significantly reduced foreshortening in echocardiographic acquisitions by sonographers, and has the potential to improve image accuracy even in the hands of experienced operators. Abstract Table Abstract Figure. Deep Learning foreshortening application

Reduced LVEDD following a 12 week exercise training program in patients with symptomatic chronic heart failure is associated with reduction in serum levels of Troponin I

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Norwegian University of Science and Technology Danish Research Council Background Exercise training (ET) exerts many beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, and longitudinal observational data from epidemiological studies suggest that higher physical activity is associated with lower concentrations of cardiac troponins. We have previously shown that ET can reduce Left Ventricle End-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), and improve exercise capacity. Purpose Our aim was to explore the relationship between changes in LVEDD and changes in high-sensitive plasma troponin I (hs-TnI) levels in patients with symptomatic heart failure undergoing a 12 week structured exercise training program in the randomized multicenter SMARTEX trial. Methods This was a post hoc analysis in 199 patients with symptomatic HF with LVEF &amp;lt;35% and NYHA II-III that were randomly assigned to High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT, n = 73), Moderate Continuous Training (MCT, n = 59) or Recommendation of Regular Exercise, (RRT, n = 67) for 12 weeks. Log-transformed Hs-TnI measurements and clinical data acquired before (BL) and after a 12 week exercise training intervention (12 weeks) and at 1 year follow-up (1 year) were analysed using a linear mixed model. For Troponin analysis the STAT Troponin-I from Abbott Diagnostics was used. Nakagawa’s marginal R2 and conditional R2 were used to evaluate variance explained by fixed effects only and by fixed and random effects together, respectively. Changes of LVEDD between baseline and 12 weeks and baseline and 52 weeks were evaluated using linear mixed model. The outcome variable were measures of LVEDD, while age, sex, visit and training group and their interaction [visit × training group] were included as fixed effects. Patient id and training center were random effects. Covariance structure was compound symmetry. Linear association between log-transformed TnI and LVEDD baseline was evaluated using Pearson correlation coefficient (R). Results Serum was available for hs-TnI analyses in 199 patients. In the HIIT group there was a sustained significant reduction in LVEDD at both 12 and 52 weeks. In the MCT group this reduction was statistically significant at 52 weeks only. Mixed model analysis predicts that each 1 mm decrease in LVEDD is associated with 1.2% decrease in TnI levels (95% CI: 0.6 – 1.9%, p &amp;lt;0.001). Neither time nor training group were associated with changes of TnI (overall test p = 0.739 and p = 0.987, respectively). Dynamics of TnI is highly patient-specific with Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.86. Mixed model explains 87% variation of the data (conditional R2), however, only 7% is attributed to the fixed effects (marginal R2). At baseline, TnI and LVEDD have modest but statistically significant correlation (R = 0.2, p= 0.004). Conclusions A reduction of LVEDD following a 12-week exercise-training program is associated with a reduction in plasma troponin levels, in patients with mild to moderate chronic heart failure. Abstract Figure.

The impact of real-time feedback by deep learning during echocardiographic scanning on test-retest variability of left ventricular systolic function measurements

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Norwegian University of Science and Technology, St. Olavs University Hospital, Central-Norway Health Authority OnBehalf Department of Circulation and Medical imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway Background/introduction Left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) is the most widely used measure of systolic cardiac function. LV foreshortening is a common problem within echocardiography and cause inaccuracies in estimation of EF and end-diastolic volume (EDV). Guidance of LV length during scanning could improve quality but has not yet been available. Purpose To evaluate the impact of real-time feedback using a robust deep learning (DL) tool during echocardiographic scanning to reduce test-retest variability in assessment of EF and LV EDV. Methods Patients scheduled for echocardiography were included if they were in sinus rhythm and had no need for use of contrast. Three consecutive echocardiograms were performed, where the first and second by two of three experienced sonographers and the third (reference) by one of four cardiologists in random order. Data collection was divided into two periods. In the first period, sonographers were told to provide high quality echocardiograms for analyses of LV function and no additional tool was provided. Thereafter, the sonographers were trained in use of the DL algorithm on 10 patients each. In the second period of inclusion, the real-time DL was used during scanning by the sonographers performing the second exam (Sonographer 2), while the first (Sonographer 1) had participated in training but had no access to the DL tool. All exams included the standard apical views, and the reference exams included tri-plane recordings of the LV as well. All measurements were done retrospectively blinded to the others. LV EF and EDV were measured in four- and two-chamber views and averaged by the method of discs’ formula. The coefficients of variation (CoV) were compared for both LV EF and EDV (two groups of sonographers vs cardiologist) before and after the introduction of DL. Results A total of 88 patients were included (45% women), 41 in period 1 and 47 in period 2. Mean (SD) age was 63 (16) years, LV EF was 53 (12) % and LV EDV was 126 (55) ml. Main findings are shown in the table. There was no significant difference in CoV for neither LV EF nor EDV using the DL tool. Compared to the first period the sonographers not using the DL tool had poorer reproducibility of LV EDV in period 2 (p ≤0.02), while there was a trend for reduced CoV for LV EDV for those using the algorithm (p = 0.11). By using the DL algorithm, LV foreshortening was reduced by 2.4 mm (p &amp;lt;0.001), and similarly, alignment of the mitral annulus was numerically improved (p = 0.10). Whether other markers of image quality were changed is not known. Conclusion The novel real-time DL algorithm to reduce foreshortening provided more standardized recordings when used by experienced sonographers during scanning, but these changes did not result in significant improvement in test-retest variation. Further development and investigations are needed to significantly reduce test-retest variability. Abstract Table_1 Abstract Figure. DL_tool

The clinical influence of hand-held ultrasound examinations by general practitioners in patients with suspected heart failure supported by tools for automatic quantification and telemedicine

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Research Council of Norway, Norwegian University of Science and Technology Nord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust Background Heart failure (HF) affects large populations. Echocardiography is the diagnostic cornerstone related to identification of cardiac pathology and classification of the disease. The availability of echocardiography may be a bottleneck in HF diagnostics. Hand-held ultrasound devices (HUDs) are easy to use and have a high availability. So far, the clinical limitations of HUDs have been related to user experience and lack of quantification of cardiac function. Purpose We aimed to evaluate the clinical influence of HUDs by general practitioners (GPs), supported by automatic tools for quantification of ejection fraction (autoEF) and mitral annular plane systolic excursion (autoMAPSE), as well as telemedical support in HF diagnostics. Methods Five GPs with limited ultrasound experience participated in the study. They were equipped with a HUD with automatic tools for LV quantification (autoEF and autoMAPSE). All GPs underwent lectures and 6 days of practical training. In total, 167 patients referred to an outpatient cardiac clinic with suspected HF were included. The GPs examined the patients in chronological stages. First by a clinical examination. Secondly, by adding HUD, then the automatic quantification tools, and finally all recordings were transferred for telemedical support by an external cardiologist. At all stages, the GPs considered whether the patients had HF. A cardiologist’s clinical and echocardiographic examination served as a reference. Results Age was mean ± SD 70 ± 13 years, mean BMI was 29 ± 19 kg/m2 and mean NT-pro-BNP 702 ± 1216 ng/L. Sinus rhythm was present in 76%. Ejection fraction was mean 53 ± 10 %. Of the 167 patients, 28 were diagnosed with HF. The clinical importance of the HUD examinations is shown in the Figure. The GPs correctly classified 55% of the patients (15 with and 77 without HF) after the clinical evaluation. After adding the HUD examination, the proportion increased to 71% (19 with and 99 without HF). The proportion was highest after telemedical support (74%; 20 with and 103 without). The use of HUDs with and without telemedicine improved the clinical benefit compared to the clinical evaluation, p &amp;lt;0.001. There was no significant benefit after adding the automatic tools (autoEF 55%; 15 with and 77 without, autoMAPSE 54%; 17 with and 73 without). The proportion of uncertain assessment were lowest for HUD and telemedicine (clinical 43 (26%), HUD only 20 (12%), autoMAPSE 37 (25%), autoEF 41 (25%), telemedicine 25 (15%)). Conclusion By adding HUD examinations to the clinical evaluation of suspected HF, the GPs diagnostic precision improved both in ruling in and ruling out HF. The use of HUDs combined with telemedical support had the highest proportion of correct reclassification. Tools for automatic quantification of LV function were not of clinical importance. Future studies are needed to evaluate how automatic quantification of cardiac function can support inexperienced users. Abstract Figure.

Mental Health in Elite Student Athletes: Exploring the Link Between Training Volume and Mental Health Problems in Norwegian College and University Students.

ObjectivesTo examine mental health problems among elite athletes in a student population, compared to the general student population, and to explore the association between weekly hours of training across mental health indicators.MethodsData are from a national study from 2018 of all college and university students in Norway. Participants indicated if they considered themselves to be an elite athlete, and how many hours per week they trained. Mental health problems were assessed using several well-validated questionnaires.ResultsAmong 50,054 students, 1.3% identified themselves as elite athletes. Both male and female elite athletes had generally better mental health across most health outcomes, reporting fewer mental health problems, less loneliness, higher satisfaction with life, more positive affect, and fewer alcohol problems. Elite athletes in team sports had slightly better mental health compared to athletes of individual sports. Increased hours of weekly exercise was associated with better mental health. However, there was generally little to be gained from increasing the amount of training from 7–10 hours/week to 14+ hours per week. Female athletes who trained 14 or more hours per week reported poorer mental health across most outcome measures.ConclusionThis study showed that both male and female elite athletes generally had better mental health across a range of health outcomes, when compared to the general student population. The study also found a positive dose-response relationship between weekly hours of training and mental health, but also a worsening of mental health for females at the extreme end of exercise continuum. The self-report nature of this student sample means that care should be taken when generalizing to other studies of elite athletes.

Tailoring Preferential Orientation in BaTiO3‐based Thin Films from Aqueous Chemical Solution Deposition

AbstractInvited for this month's cover is the group of Mari‐Ann Einarsrud at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway). The cover picture shows our in‐situ X‐ray diffraction setup for analysing the crystallization process in oxide thin films made by chemical solution deposition. By adjusting the process parameters, the nucleation and growth conditions are changed and the degree of preferred orientation and epitaxi in the oxide films can be tailored. This change is illustrated by the change in microstructure of the polycrystalline films with random orientation (left) towards highly oriented cube‐on‐cube grown films (right) where the film unit cell follows that of the substrate. This effect can be observed experimentally by the appearance of spot reflection instead of full diffraction rings on the detector. Read the full text of their Full Paper at 10.1002/cmtd.202100064.

Body-related shame or guilt? Dominant factors in maladaptive eating behaviors among Hungarian and Norwegian university students

The main purpose of our study was to examine the psychometric properties of Conradts' Weight- and Body-Related Shame and Guilt Scale (WEB-SG) and associations of body shame and guilt with maladaptive eating behaviors and general chronic shame among Hungarian and Norwegian university students. Therefore, we collected data from 561 university students from both nations in a cross-sectional questionnaire study. Participants completed the following standardized self-report questionnaires in this online survey: WEB-SG, Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26) and Experience of Shame Scale (ESS). We tested the measurement model of the WEB-SG with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and we performed CFA with covariates analysis to examine the association between WEB-guilt (WEB-G) and WEB-shame (WEB-S) and predictors. Our empirical model of WEB-SG has adequate fit with Conradts’ theoretical model among both samples. The body-related guilt positively associated with dieting and negatively related to oral control in both groups. We found a significant positive relationship between WEB-S and BMI in Hungarian sample. According to our results, WEB-SG is an adequate questionnaire for assessing weight and body-related shame and guilt in Hungarian and Norwegian non-clinical samples. Maladaptive weight and body-related guilt could be a relevant factor in proneness to anorexia. Our results highlight WEB-G and WEB-S as two critical factors in the assessment and treatment of eating difficulties.

Self-efficacy beliefs among baccalaureate nursing students- A cross-sectional, comparative study.

The aim of this study is to explore baccalaureate nursing students' self-efficacy beliefs related to theoretical coursework. Self-efficacy, i.e.,the perception of one's ability to successfully complete a task, has been shown to correlate positively with academic performance and persistence. Nursing students from a large Norwegian university participated (n=132). Data were collected through a digital questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS statistics. Descriptive analysis was performed. Student groups were compared according to gender, age, and year of study using one-way analyses of variance and independent sample t-tests. The findings suggest that the students' self-efficacy beliefs related to theoretical coursework are quite high, with few significant differences between the groups. While the students have confidence in their ability to reach academic goals, self-efficacy when facing stress and distraction is lower. The findings may be of interest to educators striving to optimize learning in baccalaureate nursing programs.

Exploring reported distress before and pain during needle insertion into a venous access port in children with cancer.

Venous access port is commonly used during cancer treatment in children, yet little is known about how children experience such needle insertion procedures. To study distress before and pain after venous access port needle insertion among children and adolescents with cancer. A second aim was to explore associations between their self-report of procedure-related distress and pain with proxy reports by parents and nurses. The sample included 43 children/adolescents, aged 1-16years with cancer, treated at two Norwegian university hospitals. The patient, parent(s), and the nurse performing the procedure completed developmentally appropriate 11-point distress and pain scales before and immediately after the venous access port procedure. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and non-parametric correlations. The ethical code of conduct was followed and conformed to the ethical guidelines adopted by the Regional Committee for Medicine and Health Research and the data protector officer at the hospitals. For the youngest children (1-5years), the median distress proxy score was 8 (range 0-9) and pain proxy score 4 (range 0-10). Median distress and pain scores for children aged 6-12years were 3 (range 0-9) and 1 (range 0-10), respectively, and for the adolescents (age 13-16) 0 (range 0-6) and 1 (range 0-5), respectively. Patients' self-reported distress and pain correlated highly with parents' (distress: rho=0.83, p<0.001, pain: rho=0.92, p<0.001) and with nurses' proxy ratings (distress: rho=0.89, p<0.001, pain: rho=0.88, p<0.001). There were individual age differences in experienced distress/pain associated with venous access port needle insertion, with a trend for younger children to experience higher levels of distress/ pain than the older children. Children's self-report of distress/ pain concurred with both parental and nurse proxy reports.

Developing Methods to Support Collaborative Learning and Co-creation of Resilient Healthcare-Tips for Success and Lessons Learned From a Norwegian Hospital Cancer Care Study.

BackgroundThere is a growing attention on the role of patients and stakeholders in resilience, but there is lack of knowledge and methods on how to support collaborative learning between stakeholders and co-creation of resilient healthcare. The aim of this article was to demonstrate how the methodological process of a consensus process for exploring aspects of next of kin involvement in hospital cancer care can be replicated as an effort to promote resilient healthcare through co-creation with multiple stakeholders in hospitals.MethodsThe study applied a modified nominal group technique process developed by synthesizing research findings across 4 phases of a research project with a mixed-methods approach. The process culminated in a 1-day meeting with 20 stakeholder participants (5 next of kin representatives, 10 oncology nurses, and 5 physicians) from 2 Norwegian university hospitals.ResultsThe consensus method established reflexive spaces with collective sharing of experiences between the 2 hospitals and between the next of kin and healthcare professionals. The method promoted collaborative learning processes including identification and reflection upon new ideas for involvement, and reduction of the gap between healthcare professionals’ and next of kin experiences and expectations for involvement. Next of kin were considered as important resources for resilient performance, if involved with a proactive approach. The consensus process identified both successful and unsuccessful collaborative practices and resulted in a co-designed guide for healthcare professionals to support next of kin involvement in hospital cancer care.ConclusionsThis study expands the body of knowledge on methods development that is relevant for collaborative learning and co-creation of resilient healthcare. This study demonstrated that the consensus methods process can be used for creating reflexive spaces to support collaborative learning and co-creation of resilience in cancer care. Future research within the field of collaborative learning should explore interventions that include a larger number of stakeholders.

Switching to Fully Online Teaching and Learning of Mathematics: The Case of Norwegian Mathematics Lecturers and University Students During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Towards the end of 2019, a novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19, was detected and quickly spread worldwide. The resulting pandemic led many countries to lockdown and teaching and learning switched to fully online provision. This study explores how Norwegian higher education lecturers and students of mathematics experienced online provision following this switch in March 2020 when the national lockdown was imposed. Data are generated and analysed using an exploratory sequential mixed methods approach that first entailed interviews with ten mathematics lecturers and six undergraduate students as the foundation for developing a survey instrument. The instrument was designed to explore further how a larger sample of mathematics lecturers and students perceived their experiences following the switch to online teaching and learning. One hundred and twenty-seven university students from four universities and eighteen mathematics lecturers from seven universities responded to the survey. The data generated indicate that advanced technology and the internet were not entirely successful in supporting many students and lecturers to adjust to the lockdown environment. Additionally, it appears that some mathematics lecturers were not aware of several challenges that students experienced following the switch. This paper aims to increase the awareness of the mathematics education community at the tertiary level about the challenges mathematics lecturers and students experience through online education. Further, it is hoped to prompt collaboration within the community to address these challenges in order to be better equipped for any use of online teaching and learning of mathematics in higher education.

Experimental Test Setup for Deoiling Hydrocyclones Using Conventional Pressure Drop Ratio Control

Summary Produced water is a major challenge in the oil and gas industry, especially with the aging of oil fields. Proper treatment of produced water is important in reducing the environmental footprint of oil and gas production. On offshore platforms, hydrocyclones are commonly used for produced-water treatment. However, maintaining the efficiency of hydrocyclones subjected to plant disturbances is a difficult task owing to their compact nature. This paper describes a new experimental test rig built at the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology for testing industrial-scale hydrocyclones. The test setup can emulate first-stage separation and create plant disturbances, such as changes in flow rate, oil concentration, and oil droplet distribution at the inlet of the hydrocyclones. Also, the setup is capable of testing different control algorithms, which helps to maintain the efficiency of hydrocyclones in the presence of such disturbances. The test rig is equipped with various instruments that can monitor such parameters as pressure, flow, temperature, and oil concentration. A typical pressure drop ratio (PDR) control scheme for hydrocyclones is tested in the test rig, which can control the disturbances in the inflow rate. The PDR control scheme does not detect disturbances in the inlet oil concentration and changes in droplet distribution, and these scenarios are shown experimentally in this paper.

First Year Occupational Therapy Students’ Engagement in Learning Activities: A Qualitative Study

When students enter a bachelor program in occupational therapy, they engage in a variety of learning activities. To explore students’ perceptions of learning activities, this qualitative study investigated the experiences of six first year students participating in an occupational therapy study program at a Norwegian university. The students took part in two focus group interviews. The interview analysis focused on meaning and ended up with three main themes: 1) Getting to know each other through collaborative learning activities, 2) Engaging in classroom learning activities, and 3) Approaching the syllabus and doing assignments. The study concludes that early engagement in social and collaborative learning activities can be a meaningful prerequisite to future learning focused on meaning and feeling safe in the learning environment. Teaching styles also influence students’ engagement in the occupation of studying, with the change from one teaching style to another being particularly challenging for the students.

From-scratch development and improvement of a problem-based learning course: Nonlinear Model Predictive Control for Chemical and Biochemical Processes*

This paper describes the development from scratch of a Nonlinear Model Predictive Control course, which was designed for 5th year Process Engineering master's students at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). After taking the course, students are able to program their own nonlinear model predictive controller (NMPC) in MATLAB, and have gained a good understanding of the most important issues related to the implementation of this type of controller in chemical and biochemical processes. The course follows problem-based learning principles. It is heavily focused on “doing”, where coding assignments are a large part of the course load. The student learning is assessed by an unconventional combination of formative feedback (one-to-one session, where we discuss their assignments and the solution strategies of the students) as well as summative feedback (systematic grading of their assignments and final exam). The student perception of the course, which was assessed by a feedback questionnaire, shows that the course adds value to them by not only helping them write more interesting Master's projects but also by improving their skill set for the job market.

A Gender Perspective on GDPR and Information Privacy

With the introduction of The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018, European citizens were granted stronger privacy protection. Despite privacy and GDPR being frequent topics of discussion, many consumers lack knowledge on how personal data are harvested for business purposes, and they are unaware of their rights. Drawing on a larger survey conducted in a Norwegian university college, this study investigates gender differences in privacy behaviour (n=444). We offer three insights. The results revealed that (1) respondents’ concern for privacy does not differ across gender, but men claimed to experience slightly more control over their personal data compared to women. (2) Exercising privacy rights were comparable across gender as women and men reported the same inclination to act on rights granted by GDPR. (3) Willingness to share information in return for benefits depended on the information in question. Men and women agreed in their willingness to exchange name and e-mail. However, women were less willing than men to give up more sensitive information, yet more willing to give up date of birthday, TV viewing history and shopping history. Our insights bring attention to a possible link between experienced control over own data and willingness to exchange data for benefits, highlighting a potential mediating relationship that could be worthwhile pursuing.