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The Importance of National Monitoring of Children's Growth : Consensus Statement From the Nordic PromoKids Network
No full textAim To describe the current approaches to surveillance and use of data on children's growth in the Nordic countries and to reach consensus on how this can be improved. Methods Members of the Promoting Healthy Weight in Children (PromoKids) network and additional public health professionals from five Nordic countries described their respective national growth surveillance systems. The various approaches to data collection and consolidation were analysed and compared. Results In Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Iceland, all children's weight and height are measured repeatedly at different intervals from birth by child and school health services. However, the data are not consistently registered centrally in all countries for use in public health planning, policymaking and research. Finland and Denmark had the most mature systems for data collection. Conclusion A consensus was reached that surveillance of body weight and height should be a mandatory element of national action plans to prevent and manage growth disorders including obesity, and to identify susceptible population groups. Surveillance protocols should be designed to prevent stigmatisation of children with overweight. Nordic countries should collaborate to accomplish comprehensive data coverage to uncover social inequalities and evaluate societal actions to prevent obesity in children
Predicting the prevalence of genetic trade-offs among adaptive substitutions
No full textGenetic trade-offs-which occur when variants that are beneficial in some contexts of natural selection are harmful in others-can influence a wide range of evolutionary phenomena, from the maintenance of genetic variation to the evolution of aging and sex differences. An extensive body of evolutionary theory has focused on the consequences of such trade-offs, and recent analyses of Fisher's geometric model have further quantified the expected proportion of new mutations that exhibit trade-offs. However, the theory remains silent regarding the prevalence of trade-offs among the variants that contribute to adaptation. Here, we extend Fisher's geometric model to predict the prevalence of trade-offs among the adaptive mutations that become established or fixed in a population. We consider trade-offs between sexes, habitats, fitness components, and temporally fluctuating environments. In all 4 scenarios, trade-off alleles are consistently under-represented among established relative to new beneficial mutations-an effect that arises from the greater susceptibility of trade-off alleles to genetic drift. Adaptation during a population size decline exacerbates this deficit of trade-offs among established mutations, whereas population expansions dampen it. Consequently, threatened populations should primarily adapt using unconditionally beneficial alleles, while invasive populations are more prone to adaptation using variants that exhibit trade-offs
Cardiac amyloidosis after lumbar spinal stenosis surgery : a comprehensive prospective cohort study
No full textBackground Wild-type transthyretin (ATTRwt) amyloidosis is underdiagnosed and generally diagnosed with manifest cardiac involvement. Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) might be an early sign of systemic transthyretin amyloidosis and a possible screening target for early diagnosis. Objectives To assess the prevalence of cardiac amyloidosis (CA) 6 years post-LSS surgery, among patients with transthyretin amyloid deposits in ligamentum flavum. Methods Twenty-one patients who had surgery for LSS in 2016–2018 and grade 3–4 ATTR amyloid deposits in ligamentum flavum were followed up in 2022–2023, including biomarkers, echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and nuclear imaging. Results At follow-up, median age was 79 years, 16% (3/19) displayed cardiac uptake on scintigraphy consistent with ATTR-CA. Forty-eight percent (10/21) had a history of other tenosynovial conditions associated with ATTRwt. We observed a small increase in tissue characteristics using CMR, and a decrease in left ventricular global longitudinal strain and left atrial strain on echocardiography. Conclusions In this prospective cohort study, 16% were diagnosed with ATTRwt cardiomyopathy, six years following surgery for LSS. History of other tenosynovial conditions associated with ATTRwt amyloidosis was common. These findings strengthen the hypothesis that LSS is a possible manifestation of ATTRwt amyloidosis and that in selected patients with LSS, cardiac follow-up is of value
Mineralogy and Deportment of Ti in the Deeper Part of the Kiirunavaara Deposit with Special Focus on Ti-rich Exsolution Lamellae
No full textThe Kiirunaavara deposit in northern Sweden, ranks among the largest iron oxide-apatite deposits globally, which serve as the fundament of European steel production. As mining operation progresses to deeper parts of the ore body, understanding the mineralogical variability of trace elements becomes essential for sustainable and efficient processing. Titanium is one of the trace elements that may occur in iron ores, either within various discrete minerals or as exsolution lamellae. These lamellae develop along the crystal lattices of magnetite and cannot be completely removed from the magnetite. As a result, the titanium content of the ore increases, leading to several issues, particularly a decrease in ore quality, reduced furnace efficiency, and increased slag viscosity. This thesis therefore investigates the distribution and mineralogy of Ti-bearing phases, with a particular focus on Ti-rich lamellae within magnetite in B ores at greater depths of the Kiirunavaara deposit (1365–1700 m). The study examines their occurrence, spatial distribution with depth, and deportment. In order to understand the distribution of Ti, a total of 36 samples from B- and D-type ores, as well as brecciated low Fe ore were collected from 5 exploration drill holes in the deposit ranging from depths of 1365–1700 m. After being as polished thin sections, these samples were analysed utilizing an integrated analytical workflow combining optical microscopy, SEM-based TESCAN Integrated Mineral Analyzer, Raman spectroscopy and electron probe microanalysis. Consequently, it was established that Ti primarily occurs as discrete oxide (ilmenite, rutile) and silicates (titanite) phases. In B1 ore types, rutile and ilmenite are dominant and are associated with high Fe concentrations (Fe > 66 wt%), whereas B2 ore type is characterized by relatively lower Ti concentrations (50-66 wt% Fe). Simultaneously, a sample was collected from the P-high interval part of the ore body (D-type), where Ti-bearing minerals were also observed to be very rarely distributed, with titanite in particular being the most abundant Ti mineral in the low Fe grade ores. While Ti-rich lamellae, mainly composed of ilmenite, were found to be extensively distributed within magnetite grains, with their abundance and morphology varying according to the ore type. Compared with low Fe grade ore, these lamellae are shorter and less dispersed in B-type ore. These lamellae were observed in thin sections using SEM-TIMA, which also proved highly effective in precisely determining the association of Ti-bearing minerals with main ore phases and gangue minerals.The findings obtained throughout the study highlight that Ti deportment becomes increasingly complex with depth and emphasize the need to take Ti-rich inclusions into account in order to optimize processing and mine planning strategies in the Kiirunavaara deposit. Keywords: Kiirunavaara deposit, Ti deportment, Ti-bearing minerals, exsolution lamellae, optical microscopy, SEM–TIMA
Study Protocol of a feasibility and acceptability trial of Problem Management Plus with Emotional Processing (PM+EP) for forcibly displaced youth living in Sweden
No full textIntroduction Heightened rates of mental illness among children, young people and forcibly displaced adults are well-documented. Despite this, access to care in host countries is often low. Problem-management plus (PM+) is an intervention developed by the WHO that can be delivered through task-shifting by lay counsellors and has been shown to be effective in numerous studies. At the same time, it has been shown that PM+ has a limited effect on traumatic stress symptoms, a common problem among forcibly displaced individuals. In turn, to further these benefits, a novel emotional processing (EP) module has been developed to be adjunctively delivered alongside PM+(PM+EP). Method and analysis The current study is a randomised controlled feasibility and acceptability study. 60 participants aged 16–25 will be randomly allocated to either PM+, PM+EP or care as usual. The primary outcome of this study will be the feasibility and acceptability of the delivery of PM+EP in forcibly displaced youth. Secondary outcomes are self-rated measures of distress, depression and anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, personally identified problems, hope, use of services and medications, general well-being and social support. Ethics and dissemination Following ethical approval in February 2024, recruitment commenced in October 2024. Study completion is anticipated by December 2025. Findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and communication with relevant stakeholders. Trial registration number NCT06878092
Sweden's public health response to COVID-19 : a qualitative study building on a realist approach
No full textBackground: Sweden's healthcare system, known for its equity and efficiency, faced criticism in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic due to its high mortality rate compared to other Nordic countries. This study aims to explore the Swedish public health system's response to emerging respiratory infectious diseases, particularly COVID-19, using a realist approach. It analyzes contextual factors, interventions, mechanisms, and outcomes to provide a comprehensive understanding of the response, including debates around voluntary versus mandatory measures and the protection of vulnerable groups such as older adults. Objective: To explore how and why Sweden's socio-political and healthcare context influenced the interventions employed and their acceptability at both individual and collective levels. Methods: A realist approach was employed, combining qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with 11 public health experts, including researchers and infectious disease specialists. Data were analyzed using both deductive and inductive approaches and interpreted through the Context-Intervention-Mechanism-Outcome (CIMO) framework. Results: Key contextual factors included high trust in authorities, political decentralization, and the structure of the healthcare system. Notable interventions involved targeted vaccination campaigns, recruitment of retired healthcare workers, and increased digitalization. Mechanisms driving outcomes included trust, acceptance, and stakeholder engagement, which facilitated adaptation and acceptability of interventions. Interviewees highlighted challenges related to the timing and adequacy of measures, particularly for older adults in long-term care. Conclusion: While Sweden's public health response was effective in several areas, it faced challenges due to decentralization, voluntary non-pharmaceutical interventions, and workforce burnout. The realist approach highlights the importance of context-sensitive mechanisms such as trust and cooperation, and the need for stronger coordination and tailored strategies for vulnerable populations. These findings provide valuable insights for strengthening public health systems and pandemic preparedness globally
Conceptual Links Between the Ewald-Oseen Extinction Theorem and Return Stroke Modeling
No full textObservations and theoretical principles indicate that electromagnetic waves, including light, propagate more slowly in dielectric media than in a vacuum. This behavior is elegantly described by Maxwell's equations, which account for material-specific permittivity and permeability. According to the principle of superposition, the net electromagnetic wave within a dielectric medium results from the combination of the incident wave and secondary waves generated by the medium's interaction with the incident wave. Notably, both the incident wave and the secondary waves propagate at the speed of light in a vacuum. The Ewald-Oseen extinction theorem explains that secondary waves, emitted by atoms in the dielectric medium, interfere with the incident wave in such a way that they cancel the original wave and produce a resultant wave propagating at a reduced speed determined by the dielectric constant of the medium. In this paper, we extend the application of the Ewald-Oseen theorem to electromagnetic wave propagation in transmission lines and demonstrate that the principles used to model lightning return strokes align closely with those predicted by the theorem
Phonon assisted ion diffusion in electrochemically cycled NaxCoO2
No full textUnderstanding ion diffusion mechanisms in layered materials is critical for advancing next-generation battery technologies. Using the well-characterized NaxCoO2 (NCO) system as a model platform, we investigated the temperature-dependent diffusion properties across a broad compositional range (x=0.33−0.89) using muon spin relaxation (μ+SR). Unexpected low-temperature internal magnetic field fluctuations were observed, systematically varying with Na content and appearing well before the onset of long-range diffusion. These fluctuations are attributed to phonon-assisted local Na motion, as suggested by a systematic increase in A with x, concurrent with a decreasing activation energy. The diffusion coefficient was calculated based on the crystal structure using a tailored diffusion model accounting for two inequivalent Na sites, yielding values consistent with those found in other layered battery materials. This work highlights the crucial role of phonon-coupled diffusion mechanisms in enabling ion transport at the microscopic scale, providing new insights into ion dynamics in layered solid-state conductors and their relevance to sodium-ion battery technology
Nemertide Alpha-1 as a Biopesticide : Aphid Deterrence, Antimicrobial Activity, and Safety Aspects
No full textAphid control often relies on synthetic pesticides, but their overuse has raised concerns about resistance development and negative impact on wildlife and human health. Consequently, the search for new biopesticide agents has gained significant attention. Nemertide alpha-1, a peptide toxin from the marine nemertean worm Lineus longissimus (Gunnerus, 1770), is known for its pesticide activity but has less documented biological safety. This study investigates the aphid feeding deterrence and biological safety of the experimental biopesticide nemertide alpha-1. Nemertide alpha-1 demonstrated a clear dose-dependent repellent effect on the penetration behaviour of the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae, Sulzer). It also demonstrates bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects in an MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) assay, respectively, on E. coli (MIC: 112.5 µM) and S. aureus (MIC: 28.4 µM). In a bacterial liposome leakage assay, nemertide alpha-1 exhibits a less pronounced effect than the melittin control (20% maximum leakage at 100 µM), strengthening the hypothesis on the specificity of its neurotoxic mode of action. It is not toxic to mammalian cell U-937 GTB with only a slight decline in the percentage of survival at the highest concentration tested (80 µM). Finally, nemertide alpha-1 displays thermal stability over time for four weeks in three different conditions: cold (6 °C), room temperature (20–24 °C), and physiological temperature (37 °C). Nemertide alpha-1 deters green peach aphid feeding in the low micromolar range and exhibits low antimicrobial properties and very low toxicity to human cells. Its potential utility is further underscored by thermal stability over time
Political News and Market Stability : Evidence from Swedish Elections
No full textThis thesis investigates how the announcement of Swedish general election results impact thedomestic stock market return and volatility. Prior research has documented significantreactions to political events in presidential systems like the United States, however less isknown about how markets respond to election results in coalition-based parliamentarydemocracies. Using the event study methodology and GARCH-based volatility modeling, weanalyze the OMX Stockholm Large Cap across the election years 2014, 2018, and 2022.Three event windows are applied to capture both short-term and extended post-electioneffects.The results show no consistent evidence of abnormal returns following the electionannouncements and only limited statistical evidence of elevated volatility. Although the 2022election year exhibits cases of statistically significant return and volatility, these effects lackstructure in daily patterns, and thereby are dismissed as statistical noise rather thanmeaningful market reactions. The statistical findings of certain years and event windowcombinations are noted, but not considered meaningful due to the low economical impact ofthe findings.Taken together, the findings support that the announcement on Swedish general electionresults have minimal impact on the behavior of the domestic stock market, with no systematicevidence of return or volatility in the observed periods