125 research outputs found
Evaluation of a high concentrate omega-3 for correcting the omega-3 fatty acid nutritional deficiency in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (CONDIN)
No full textThis randomized controlled trial investigated the safety and efficacy of MF4637, a high concentrate omega-3 fatty acid preparation, in correcting the omega-3 fatty acid nutritional deficiency in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The primary end point of the study was set as the change of red blood cell (RBC) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) by MF4637. Whether the omega-3 concentrate could lower liver fat was evaluated in a subset of patients. Furthermore, 176 subjects with NAFLD were randomized to receive the omega-3 concentrate (n = 87) or placebo (n = 89) for 24 weeks, in addition to following standard-of-care dietary guidelines. The omega-3 index, omega-6: omega-3 fatty acid ratio and quantitative measurements of RBC EPA and DHA were determined at baseline and study completion. Magnetic resonance imaging of liver fat was conducted in a subset of patients. Administration of high concentrate omega-3 for 24 weeks significantly increased the omega-3 index and absolute values of RBC EPA and DHA, and decreased the RBC omega-6: omega-3 fatty acid ratio (p < 0.0001). A significant reduction in liver fat content was reported in both groups
What is maintaining variation in personalities in wild populations of great tits and blue tits?
No full textIt is now commonly recognized that animals have different personalities and that these personalities are moderately heritable, repeatable, and may influence fitness components such as survival and reproduction. Much of this knowledge has been gained by studying birds, and in particular great tits Parus major. In nature, great
variation in personalities seems to exist, from shy to bold individuals, i.e. a shy-bold continuum. It has been suggested that the various personalities have equal fitness over time because of environmental variation, and thus represent Evolutionary Stable Strategies (ESS). An alternative is that some individuals with
low fighting ability, e.g. because of poor rearing conditions, play a shy personality ( Best of a bad job strategy). I wanted to address
this problem by studying anti-predator behaviour in great tits and blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus in a woodland area in Norway. A total of
107 great tit and 75 blue tit local recruits (grown up in the area) were caught in the autumn and several measures of anti-predator behaviour were recorded. Subsequent winter survival and reproductive success (i.e. laying date, clutch size, number of fledged and body mass on day 15) were observed. As the methods adopted in this study to measure personality traits were previously little used, analyses of repeatability was performed in order to determine whether the methods proved to be a reliable way of measuring personality. The results showed quite high repeatability within observers, but
low repeatability between observers and within and between anti-predator variables in general. Possible explanations for this are discussed. Two significant relationships, both for great tits, were obtained between fitness measures and anti-predator behaviour (survivors screamed less than non-survivors, and birds with low breathing rate laid more eggs than birds with high breathing rate). However, due to the large number of tests, and data from one year
only, no firm conclusions could be drawn. Improved methods and data from more years are needed
Utviklingsarbeid i kommunale barnehager under endrede rammevilkår. En studie av hvordan kommunale barnehager arbeider med utviklingsarbeid - og hvordan dette arbeidet påvirkes av endrede rammevilkår.
No full textDenne masteroppgaven omhandler utviklingsarbeid i kommunale barnehager. Jeg har arbeidet med følgende problemstillinger:
1.Hvordan arbeider kommunale barnehager med utviklingsarbeid?
2.I hvilken grad påvirker endrede rammevilkår utviklingsarbeidet i kommunale barnehager? Til slutt har jeg sett på hva som er drivere og barrierer i dette arbeidet.
Jeg har redegjort for ulike teorier om forhold i organisasjonen som kan innvirke på utviklingsarbeid. For å belyse problemstillingene har jeg brukt teorier om koherens, kapasitetsbygging og profesjonell kapital. Videre er teorier om «Profesjonelle lærende fellesskap» (PLF) og betydning av ledelse anvendt.
På bakgrunn av teorien ble det utarbeidet en intervjuguide. Kvalitativ metode er brukt for å innhente data, og det ble gjennomført seks intervjuer med styrere, assisterende styrere og pedagogisk ledere i Randaberg kommune. Datainnsamlingen ble utført våren 2024.
Funnene mine viser at utviklingsarbeid i barnehagene foregår på ulike måter. Gjennomføring av møter på dagtid varierer på grunn av sykefravær og mangel på vikarer. Barnehager som både er store og har implementeringsplaner virker å ha større gjennomføringsevne av møter på dagtid. Et viktig funn er at alle respondentene bruker forskningsbasert kunnskap og har et felles språk i sin barnehage. Ledelse er avgjørende for å endre praksis og drive utviklingsarbeid, og det er viktig at dette arbeidet er forankret hos ledelsen. Samarbeid både internt og eksternt for å oppnå læring har forbedringspotensialet.
Mine funn indikerer at økonomi er det endrede rammevilkåret som påvirker utviklingsarbeidet i kommunale barnehager på flest områder. Ny tilskuddsordning gir lite handlingsrom i budsjettet. Dette gjør det utfordrende å gjennomføre møter og plantid på dagtid når det er sykdom i personalet og mangel på vikarer. Endringer i oppvekstadministrasjonen har også påvirket forankringen av utviklingsarbeid. Det er få møtepunkter med nærmeste leder, det kan føre til avstand i prosesser og mindre motivasjon. Trang økonomi begrenser deltakelsen i eksterne nettverk og konferanser, noe som påvirker profesjonelt påfyll. Økt oppholdstid for barn og høyt sykefravær har ført til mindre voksentetthet i løpet av dagen. Dette begrenser muligheten for å drive utviklingsarbeid, da fokuset må være på den daglige driften.
Rammefaktorer som er drivere i utviklingsarbeid fremheves å være høy gjennomføringsevne på møter, få med alle ansatte, tydelig ledelse, et økonomisk handlingsrom og å utarbeide en langsiktig fagplan. Rammefaktorer som er barrierer for utviklingsarbeid nevnes å være lite økonomisk handlingsrom, lav bemanning og fravær av ledelse. I tillegg trekkes mangel på fagplan og lav møtefrekvens internt i barnehagen frem
Evaluation of design interventions for hospitality and privacy at inpatient wards
No full textObjective – Inspired by the strong vision of the hospital organization on hospitality, a new hospital was built with the intention to provide an open environment which supports privacy and interaction between the occupants. This study evaluates the satisfaction of patients, visitors and nursing staff with shared and single bedrooms, regarding privacy and interaction with others.
Background – The hospital organization and the architecture firm, responsible for the design of the new hospital, initiated the study in order to receive high quality feedback on design interventions. The design intended to support both social and professional interaction while safeguarding sufficient privacy for the patients. Privacy of patients was evaluated as one of the aspects which may affect the experience of hospitality.
Research question – To what extent do layout aspects of single and shared bedrooms support privacy and social interaction of the patients, visitors and staff?
Methods – The study was an observational study comparing evaluations of three types of users of the hospital building: patients, visitors and nursing staff. A questionnaire was developed consisting questions about personal characteristics of the respondents, satisfaction with building and care related aspects and a number of statements that had to be rated on a 5-point scale. The study was approved by the Medical Ethical Test Committee of the hospital.
Results – 195 nurses, 154 patients and 150 visitors completed the questionnaire. Generally, all three groups were satisfied with the level of privacy and interaction, supported by layout aspects of the single and shared bedrooms; patients were most satisfied. Differences in the rating of importance of privacy related aspects were statistically significant between patients, visitors and staff.
Conclusion – The findings contribute to improvement of design interventions in future hospitals. Layout related aspects as well as organizational aspects contribute to improve satisfaction with privacy and interaction. Generally, staff was less satisfied than patients and visitors; more involvement of nurses in future design processes is most valuable
Child overweight in general practice – parents’ beliefs and expectations – a questionnaire survey study
No full textBackground: Care for overweight children in general practice involves collaboration with parents. Acknowledging the parents' frames of references is a prerequisite for successful management. We therefore aimed to analyse parental beliefs about the presumed causes and consequences of overweight in children and expectations towards the GP. Moreover, we aimed at comparing the beliefs and expectations of parents of non-overweight children (NOWC) and parents of overweight children (OWC). Methods. A cross-sectional survey. Data were obtained from a questionnaire exploring parents' beliefs and expectations regarding overweight in children. The questionnaires were completed by parents following their child's participation in the five-year preventive child health examination (PCHE).Parental agreement upon statements concerning beliefs and expectations regarding overweight in children was measured on a Likert scale. Differences in levels of agreement between parents of non-overweight children and parents of overweight children were analysed using Chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test. Results: Parents of 879 children completed and returned questionnaires. Around three fourths of the parents agreed that overweight was a health problem. A majority of parents (93%) agreed that the GP should call attention to overweight in children and offer counselling on diet and exercise. Almost half of the parents expected a follow-up programme. Parents of overweight children seemed to agree less upon some of the proposed causes of overweight, e.g. inappropriate diet and lack of exercise. These parents also had stronger beliefs about overweight disappearing by itself as the child grows up. Conclusions: According to parental beliefs and expectations, general practice should have an important role to play in the management of child overweight. Moreover, our findings suggest that GPs should be aware of the particular beliefs that parents of overweight children may have regarding causes of overweight in their child.</p
Changes in leisure time physical activity unrelated to subsequent body weight changes, but body weight changes predicted future activity
No full textPhysical activity and obesity are known to be associated. We investigated whether a change in leisure time physical activities (LTPA) predicts a subsequent weight change, or vice versa. We used data from a longitudinal study among Danish adults surveyed in 1983–1984, 1987–1988, and 1993–1994. Between two sequential surveys, the change in LTPA was grouped as no change, became less or more active; the change in body weight was defined as no change, lost or gained of more than one body mass index (BMI) unit. Among 2386 adults, change in LTPA was not associated with subsequent weight change. However, a loss in body weight (BMI change < −1 unit) was associated with subsequent either becoming less [OR = 1.49, 95% CI (1.03–2.15)] or borderline more active [OR = 1.37, 95% CI (0.99–1.90)]. Subgroup analyses showed particularity among females that a loss in body weight was associated with subsequent becoming more active [OR = 1.83, 95% CI (1.15–2.89)]. Our results suggest that change in LTPA is unrelated to subsequent weight change, but loss in body weight seems related to subsequent more active among female adults.</p
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