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Physical activity, endurance sport practice, atrial fibrillation, and prevention of adverse events: The Norwegian Exercise in Atrial Fibrillation Study (NEXAF)
Get PDFAtrial fibrillation (AF), the most common arrhythmia worldwide, is associated with an increased risk of stroke and mortality. Low to moderate physical activity (PA) levels are associated with a reduced AF risk. Conversely, high PA is associated with an increased risk. Thus, it is unclear whether the beneficial effect of high PA is offset by an increased AF risk. Furthermore, the impact of PA on stroke and mortality in individuals with AF remains understudied. The aim of this doctoral dissertation was to examine how PA and long-term endurance sport practice affect the risk of AF and related adverse events such as stroke and mortality. In paper I (men) and II (women) we included athletes from the Birkebeiner Ageing Study and non-athletes from The Tromsø Study (≥65 years) to examine the association between endurance sport practice and AF. In paper I the association with stroke was also studied. In paper III we documented the 10-year risk of mortality in the same cohort as in study I. In paper IV participants from the Tromsø Study and the Trøndelag Health Study were included to study the impact of PA on stroke and mortality in individuals with and without AF. We observed that high PA and especially long-term endurance sport practice increased the risk of AF. However, high PA and endurance sport practice were also associated with a reduced risk of stroke and mortality. Furthermore, in individuals with AF, PA was associated with reduced stroke rates and an increased life-expectancy. Although high PA may increase the risk of AF, the beneficial effects seem to largely outweigh this negative effect. Moreover, the substantial health benefits of PA observed in individuals with AF suggest that PA should be implemented as a complementary component to conventional treatment of AF.Atrieflimmer (AF), den vanligste arytmien på verdensbasis, er forbundet med en økt risiko for hjerneslag og forhøyet dødelighet. Lave til moderate nivåer av fysisk aktivitet er forbundet med en redusert AF risiko. Derimot er høye nivåer av fysisk aktivitet forbundet med en forhøyet risiko. Dermed er det uklart om de gunstige effektene av høy fysisk aktivitet utlignes av en forhøyet AF risiko. Videre er forskning på innvirkningen av fysisk aktivitet på slagrisiko og dødelighet hos individer med AF manglende. Formålet med denne doktorgradsavhandlingen var å undersøke hvordan fysisk aktivitet og langvarig utholdenhetstrening påvirker risiko for AF og relaterte utfall som hjerneslag og dødelighet. I artikkel I (menn) og II (kvinner) inkluderte vi utholdenhetsutøvere fra Birkebeiner Aldringsstudien og ikke-utøvere fra Tromsøundersøkelsen (≥65 år) for å studere sammenhengen mellom utholdenhetstrening og AF. I artikkel I ble sammenhengen med hjerneslag også studert. I artikkel III ble risikoen død over en 10-årsperiode undersøkt i samme kohort som i studie I. I artikkel IV ble deltagere fra Tromsøundersøkelsen og HUNT studien inkludert for å undersøke effekten av fysisk aktivitet på slagrisiko og dødelighet hos individer med og uten AF. Vi observerte at høy fysisk aktivitet og spesielt langvarig utholdenhetstrening var forbundet med en forhøyet risiko for AF. Likevel var høy fysisk aktivitet og utholdenhetstrening også forbundet med en redusert risiko for slag og lavere dødelighet. Videre, blant individer med AF var fysisk aktivitet assosiert med en redusert hjerneslagsfrekvens og forhøyet forventet levetid. Selv om høy fysisk aktivitet ser ut til å være forbundet med en økt risiko for AF, ser det ut til at de gunstige effektene av fysisk aktivitet overskygger denne negative effekten. Videre observeres det betydelige helseeffekter av fysisk aktivitet blant individer med AF. Dette tyder på at fysisk aktivitet burde implementeres som en komplementær komponent til konvensjonell behandling av AF
Inappropriate Behavior and Dropout from Sport: A Quantitative Study of Elite Athletes in Denmark
Get PDFIn the international sporting arms race to win medals at major tournaments, addressing the determinants of elite athlete dropout is essential. This is especially true for smaller nations, which are at a disadvantage to large nations when it comes to the availability of talent. Therefore, the retention of the elite is essential. In this paper, we examine survey data from Danish top-level athletes to understand the factors that influence athletes' reflections on quitting. The study not only focuses on factors common to athlete dropout but includes the effect of inappropriate behaviour, bullying and harassment experienced by (some) athletes from their peers, coaches, or sport managers. Our findings suggest that athletes who feel safe and haven’t experienced transgressional behaviour from others are less likely to quit their elite sporting careers. Athletes from team sports are significantly less likely to consider quitting than athletes in individual sports. Also, the experience of inappropriate behaviour seems to have a significantly weaker effect on world-class athletes and elite athletes’ plans on quitting. The results have implications for people supporting athletes in optimising their international competitiveness. A mentally and physically healthy supporting environment benefits the athletes and keeps them competing
Vurderinger av barnets beste ved skolestrukturendringer - En veileder til barnerettighetsvurderinger basert på norsk lovverk, eksisterende veiledere og lovlighetskontroller
Get PDFSource at https://nordlandsforskning.no/nb.Spørsmålet om hvordan hensynet til barnets beste skal vurderes i saker om endringer i skolestruktur, har fått økt oppmerksomhet både rettslig og politisk de siste årene. Dette har særlig aktualisert seg gjennom rettspraksis, nye lovbestemmelser, og en generell styrking av barns rettigheter i norsk og internasjonal rett. I tillegg har emnet fått en tydeligere plass i den offentlige debatten.
Med den nye opplæringslova (2023) er prinsippet om det beste for eleven løftet inn som et generelt styringsprinsipp for all offentlig virksomhet i opplæringssektoren. Dette samsvarer med utviklingen i barneretten, hvor FNs barnekonvensjon og særlig artikkel 3 og 12, vektlegger barns rett til å bli hørt – og at deres beste skal være et grunnleggende hensyn.
I praksis betyr dette at kommuner og fylkeskommuner, som ansvarlige for henholdsvis grunnskoleopplæring og videregående opplæring, har en rettslig forpliktelse til å identifisere, vurdere og dokumentere hvordan et tiltak, som for eksempel endringer i skolestruktur, påvirker elevene. Dette må skje både på overordnet nivå (struktur og plan) og i den enkelte sak. Manglende vurdering kan få rettslige konsekvenser, blant annet i form av at politiske vedtak kan bli kjent ugyldig gjennom lovlighetskontroll
Seasonal variation in the nutritional composition and potentially toxic elements of the red macroalga Palmaria palmata in the Arctic
Get PDFAlgae can be a sustainable food source rich in proteins, polysaccharides, minerals and vitamins. These compounds will vary greatly due to seasonal and environmental fluctuations. The present study investigated the seasonal variations in the nutritional composition and potentially toxic elements of P. palmata harvested monthly in the Arctic, characterized by polar nights and midnight sun. A seasonal trend for the biochemical constituents was observed, where the dry matter and sugar content were higher during late summer and autumn and lower during late winter and spring. The ash and protein content show an opposing trend, with higher content during late winter and spring and lower during late summer and autumn, with the lowest being in August. Notably, the high iodine content varies substantially, withhigher levels in spring and summer, limiting the recommended daily intake of P. palmata to maximum 0.63–0.92 g DW for a 70 kg individual. Seasonal fluctuations were also found for toxic elements such as arsenic, cadmium and lead, with higher concentrations observed in winter and spring. The high concentrations of the main components responsible for the characteristic umami taste, glutamic acid and aspartic acid, during the year affect the sensory properties of the algae, making it a valuable taste enhancer. The present study highlights the importance of considering seasonal variations when assessing the nutritional value and safety of P. palmata as a food source
Combinatorial Effects of Free and Nanoencapsulated Forms of Cabazitaxel and RAS-Selective Lethal 3 in Breast Cancer Cells
Get PDFBackground: Combination therapies for cancer have gained considerable attention due to their potential for enhancing therapeutic efficacy and decreasing drug resistance.
Introducing nanodrug delivery systems in this context may further improve the therapy
due to targeted delivery, improved drug stability, sustained drug release, and prevention of rapid clearance from circulation. This study evaluates the combinatorial effects
of two cytotoxic drugs, cabazitaxel (CBZ) and RSL3 (RAS-selective lethal 3), in free form
as well as encapsulated within poly(2-ethyl butyl cyanoacrylate) (PEBCA) nanoparticles
(NPs) in breast cancer cell lines. Methods: Cell proliferation was assessed using IncuCyte
technology, and synergistic drug effects were determined with SynergyFinder Plus. Cell
viability was measured with the MTT assay. Additionally, we investigated whether the
combinatorial effects were reflected in alterations of metabolic activity or reactive oxygen species (ROS) production using Seahorse technology and the CM-H2DCFDA assay,
respectively. Results: The data presented reveal, for the first time, that CBZ and RSL3
exhibit synergistically or additively combinatorial effects on various breast cancer cell lines.
The pattern of cytotoxic effects was consistent, whether the drugs were in free form or
encapsulated in NPs. Moreover, the combinatorial effects were not observed to be associated with early changes in metabolic activity or ROS production. Conclusion: This study
highlights the potential of CBZ and RSL3 in combinatorial nanomedicine as they may act
synergistically. Further studies are warranted to better understand the mechanisms behind
these combinatorial effects
Norske Samers Riksforbund sin dominerende rolle i samepolitikken – i endring og under press
Get PDFThe Norwegian Sami Association (NSR) has dominated Sámi politics since the establishment of the Sámi Parliament in 1989. NSR has often been the leading party, shaping the political agenda and forming most of the Executive Councils of the Sámi Parliament (‘governments’). This dominance, characterized as the dominant party in a two-party system, has been challenged recently by the emergence of the People of the North Party (Nordkalottfolket – NKF). The new political competition introduces significant changes, potentially ending NSR’s long-standing influence. NSR’s ability to adapt to demographic shifts and maintain its role as a cultural and political institution will be critical. Despite these challenges, NSR remains the central political party in the institutionalization and internationalization of Sámi rights, particularly regarding land and self-determination. The evolving political landscape suggests an increasing fragmentation, yet NSR’s historical and organizational strengths may help sustain its dominant position
Sedimentary ancient DNA insights into foraminiferal diversity near the grounding line in the western Ross Sea, Antarctica
Get PDFForaminifera are important marine environmental indicators widely used in paleoceanography and paleoclimate studies. They are a dominant component of meiobenthic communities around the Antarctic continental shelf, including rarely studied locations below the ice shelves, close to the grounding line. In this study, we use high-throughput sequencing of sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) targeting foraminifera with two molecular markers, including an ultrashort marker newly designed for this study, in five cores from the western Ross Sea, containing sediments up to 30 000 years old. No foraminiferal DNA is detected in the tills, suggesting a lack of preservation of sedaDNA during glacially induced sediment reworking and transport. We reconstruct diverse foraminiferal communities in the open-marine settings and significantly less diverse communities in sediments from the slopes of the sub-ice-shelf grounding-zone wedges, deposited proximal to the grounding line. Both assemblages are rich in soft-walled monothalamids not preserved in the fossil record and complement the results of earlier micropaleontological studies, allowing for a more complete reconstruction of past biodiversity. The newly designed minibarcode marker provides higher foraminiferal diversity in surface and subsurface samples than the standard barcode and allows for better differentiation between foraminiferal communities in different sediment types. It appears to have great potential for future paleoenvironmental studies, although its taxonomic resolution needs to be evaluated
Tannhelsesystemet i Norge og Pakistan: en komparativ dokumentanalyse
Get PDFNøkkelord: Oral helse, orale sykdommer, forebygging,
Sykdommer i munnhulen er blant de mest vanlige ikke-smittsomme sykdommene på verdensbasis, men det sees betydelige forskjeller mellom utviklingsland og utviklede land.
Det overordnede målet var å undersøke tannhelsesystemene i Norge og Pakistan og gjøre en komparativ dokumentanalyse basert på disse tre forskningsspørsmålene:
* Epidemiologi av orale sykdommer: Hva er de mest utbredte orale sykdommene i Norge og Pakistan, og hvordan håndteres disse sykdommene på systemnivå?
2. Hvordan er tannhelsetjenestene organisert i Norge og Pakistan, og hvilken grad av tilgjengelighet har befolkningen til disse tjenestene?
3. Hva er de viktigste forebyggende tiltakene som implementeres i tannhelsesystemene i Norge og Pakistan for å fremme oral helse?
Karies og periodontitt er de mest uttalte orale sykdommene i begge land, hvor forekomsten av oral kreft er betydelig et større problem i Pakistan enn i Norge. I Norge er det nasjonale retningslinjer som kommer med anbefalinger om hvordan man kan opprettholde en god oral hygiene. I Pakistan er det derimot ingen slike retningslinjer som gjør organisering og tilgjengeligheten av tannhelsetjenester i landet utfordrende og lite systematisk. I Norge har de et stort fokus på forebyggende tiltak, hvor i Pakistan har de manglende forebyggende tiltak på nasjonalt nivå.
Funnene viser tydelige forskjeller når det kommer til den orale helsen i Norge og Pakistan. Norge har et mer strukturert og forebyggende system, mens Pakistan mangler dette i tillegg til nasjonale retningslinjer og statistikk. Dette gjør oral helse til en større utfordring i Pakistan enn Norge.Key words: oral health, oral diseases, prevention.
Oral diseases are among the most common non-communicable diseases worldwide, but significant differences are seen between developing countries and developed countries. The overall aim was to examine the dental health systems in Norway and Pakistan, and conduct a comparative document analysis based on these three research questions:
1. Epidemiology of oral diseases: what are the most prevalent oral diseases in Norway and Pakistan, and how are these diseases managed at the system level?
2. How are dental helath services organized in Norway and Pakistan, and to what extent does the population have access to these services?
3. What are the key preventive measures implemented in the dental health systems in Norway and Pakistan to promote oral health?
Caries and periodontitis are the most common oral diseases in both countries, with the incidence of oral cancer being a significantly greater issue in Pakistan than in Norway. In Norway, national guidelines provides recommendations on how to maintain good oral hygiene. In contrast, Pakistan lacks such guidelines, making the organization and accessibility of dental services in the country challenging and unsystematic. Norway places strong emphasis on preventive measures, while Pakistan lacks national level preventive efforts.
The findings reveal clear differences in oral health between Norway and Pakistan. Norway has more structures and preventive system, while Pakistan lacks this structure in addition to national guidelines and statistics. This makes oral health a greater challenge in Pakistan compared to Norway
Heavy potassium isotopes in carbonatites reveal oceanic crust subduction as the driver of deep carbon cycling
Get PDFCarbon cycling between surface and mantle reservoirs is pivotal in fostering habitability of Earth. A critical yet poorly constrained parameter is whether crustal carbon can “survive” devolatilization processes that accompany slab subduction and therefore influence deep carbon budgets. Carbonatites provide a key record to address this important topic. Here, we present high-precision potassium isotope data for a large set of carbonatite samples from both continental and oceanic settings, spanning from 2 billion years ago to the present. Modeling suggests that the heavy potassium isotopic compositions of carbonatites are inherited from their mantle sources, rather than resulting from magmatic and postmagmatic processes. Our results demonstrate a strong link between the subduction of oceanic crust and the recycling of carbonates into the mantle sources of carbonatites. These findings support the hypothesis that subduction of carbonate-bearing altered oceanic crust has been a critical mechanism for transferring carbon into the deep Earth through time
Sartrean Nothingness and the Need for Meaning. Navigating the Human Condition and Existentialist Morality Through Authenticity
Get PDFThe (im)possibility of grounding an ethics based on Jean-Paul Sartre’s ontology in Being and Nothingness has been a central discussion for many years. In this thesis, I contribute to the discourse by offering a discussion on Sartrean authenticity. The aim is to explore how authenticity can be used to navigate the human condition, as presented by Sartre and to discuss how it can be understood as a moral term. To do so, I begin with an analysis of Sartre’s understanding of the human condition, followed by a discussion on why authenticity should be viewed as an appropriate way of navigating through this condition and life in general. Lastly, I will discuss how authenticity can be implemented as a moral term and how it can be applied to make moral judgements. Authenticity, as I argue, enables us as meaning-seeking creatures to create meaning in an inherently meaningless world. It is therefore we should choose authenticity over a life in bad faith. I will also discuss how treating others authentically benefits not only ourselves, but others as well. In the last chapter, I argue that Sartrean authenticity is best understood as a moral virtue, show how this virtue can be applied and discuss its potentials and limitations