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Introduction: Seasonality in depressive and bipolar disorders, are recognized in the ICD-10/11 and DSM-5 diagnostic systems. The existence of a seasonal pattern of hospital diagnosis of major depression, bipolar disorder and prescription of antidepressant medications has not been evaluated in the Danish population. Methods: We retrieved date and year for all first-time hospital contacts with depression or bipolar disorder between 1999 and 2019, registered in the Danish National Patient Registry. Depression was defined using the ICD-10 F32-F33 codes, and for bipolar disorder the F30 or F31 codes. Date and year of all first-time purchases of antidepressant medications with ATC codes (N06A) between 1999 and 2021 were retrieved from the Danish National Prescription Registry, containing information on all prescribed drugs dispensed at pharmacies since 1995. Data on sunlight hours from 2012 to 2021 were retrieved from the Danish Metrological Institute. Results: Incidences of hospital diagnoses as well as purchases of medication varied with month and season. The monthly variations were larger for antidepressant medication and smallest for bipolar disorder. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that number of first-time diagnoses of depression or bipolar disorder did not correlate with season. For antidepressant medication the number of first-time prescriptions was significantly lower in summer compared to the winter season. Conclusion: This study found a seasonal variation of first-time prescriptions of antidepressant medication. We did not find a seasonal variation in first-time hospital diagnoses. Further research looking into depression severity, polarity of bipolar illness episodes, lag-time for sunlight exposure, and specific parts of the yearly photoperiods should be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rural youth exodus has mostly been explained with the pull of the city. In this mixed-method study, we explore whether young people also experience a push to leave the rural community due to a lack of psychosocial thriving. The quantitative analysis of the Ungdata-survey among young people aged 13–16 years (n = 141,058) shows that girls imagine leaving more than boys, and also fare worse on many indicators for psychosocial well-being. There is a linear decline in girls' psychosocial well-being the less centrally they live. We call this the gendered district effect. Contrary to expectations, we find that rural girls without higher education aspirations are those who least want to stay in the rural community. It is likely that a lower degree of psychosocial well-being is part of the reason that more girls in rural areas wish to leave their homeplace. The qualitative analysis of the rural village of Smallville (n = 21) explores this, showing that girls commonly wanted to leave to escape a toxic social environment, which also offered few status-filled work opportunities in the village. The girls were more affected by the rural community's restricting social norms, leaving girls with poor self-images and the wish to leave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate receipt of antibiotics among patients with neuroborreliosis after initial antibiotic treatment, likely attributable to posttreatment symptoms. Methods: We performed a nationwide, matched, population-based cohort study in Denmark (2009-2021). We included all Danish patients with neuroborreliosis, i.e. a positive Borrelia burgdorferi intrathecal antibody index test and a cerebrospinal fluid leukocyte count ≥10 × 106/l, and initially treated with doxycycline. To form a comparison cohort, we randomly extracted individuals from the general population matched 1:10 to patients with neuroborreliosis on date of birth and sex. The main outcome was receipt of doxycycline, and the secondary outcome was receipt of phenoxymethylpenicillin. We calculated short-term (<1 year) and long-term (≥1 year) hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results: We included 463 patients with neuroborreliosis and 2,315 comparison cohort members. Compared with the comparison cohort members, patients with neuroborreliosis initially treated with doxycycline had increased receipt of additional doxycycline within 1 year (HR: 38.6, 95%CI: 17.5–85.0) and ≥1 years (HR: 3.5, 95%CI: 1.9–6.3). Compared with comparison cohort members, patients with neuroborreliosis had no increased receipt of phenoxymethylpenicillin (<1 year HR 1.0, 95%CI: 0.7–1.3; ≥1 years HR 1.2, 95%CI: 0.9–1.5). Conclusions: After initial antibiotic treatment, patients with neuroborreliosis have increased receipt of doxycycline particularly within one year after initial antibiotic therapy but also subsequently. The lack of increased receipt of phenoxymethylpenicillin suggests that the receipt of doxycycline was not merely due to differences in healthcare-seeking behaviour, increased risk of early Lyme borreliosis due to exposure, or differences in antibacterial usage in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates how a global engineering firm can implement a centrally managed, globally integrated supplier base. Based on in-depth evidence from a single longitudinal case study, we identify different approaches for the case company to integrate their local supplier base into a multi-step process: first, the company attempted supplier base reduction by 'cutting the tail' off a vast supplier base. Second, they prioritised suppliers based on groupings and importance across the global supply network. Third, the case company tested supplier relationship management with a small selection of suppliers, resulting in improving their own delivery performance. Based on these insights, we propose a conceptual framework of global supplier base management. We discuss this framework in relation to the supply management and global operations literature. This paper contributes to the operations and supply chain management literature by offering an initial understanding for global sourcing strategies through integrating a previously localised supplier base into a globally consistent approach to managing the supplier base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The watchdog role is central to the democratic legitimacy of journalism and is also perceived as an essential part of journalists' role performance by the public. So far, the expectations on journalists' watchdog role performance have been studied as a static concept resulting in limited knowledge of the underlying dynamics in audience demand and expectations for this type of journalism. We argue that the demand for watchdog journalism is dynamic and varies according to changes in the broader context and across audience characteristics. We take a multi-method approach to examine the demand for watchdog journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark. First, we use data from three representative surveys (n≈1.000 in each), including a panel component (n = 336), to demonstrate that the demand for watchdog journalism increased over time, especially among opposition voters, as the political context offered more political conflict and contested policy solutions. Second, a qualitative analysis of answers to an open-ended question in the surveys examines how the audience believes the watchdog role should be performed. We show that the demand for different functions of journalists' critical reporting varies over time and that the form used by journalists when conducting critical reporting is extremely important to the audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a textual feature in Cormac McCarthy’s novel The Road (2006) that has hitherto been misunderstood by the reception, namely the spaced ellipses between several paragraphs which are considered by notable McCarthy scholars to signal particularly distinct pauses in the textual flow of the novel. The article demonstrates that this is a misperception with significant consequences for the interpretation of the story’s rhythm. Drawing on textual scholars such as Jerome McGann, Bill Brown, John Bryant, and John B. Thompson, the article finally discusses how neutral bibliographical codes occasionally express their own intentions that are in conflict with those of the author. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal crises such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic challenge public organizations in many ways. Yet, there is little knowledge of how varying crisis intensity can spark different reactions among public leaders and employees. This study examines the dynamics of the COVID-19 crisis in relation to leadership behaviors and employee outcomes for 920 individuals in 45 organizational units within the police, hospitals, and assisted living facilities. By conducting a panel study that combines nationwide data on crisis intensity with survey data from 2019 to 2021, the study shows that employee outcomes such as public service motivation and job satisfaction are higher in severe stages of the crisis. Likewise, crisis intensity is positively associated with employee perceived use of visionary transformational leadership, but negatively associated with employee perceived use of verbal transactional leadership. Hence, public leaders should be prepared to handle complex employee reactions when the next crisis occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I investigate the effect of lowering welfare benefits for refugees on children's outcomes in Denmark. For identification, I exploit a reform that gave refugees lower benefits if they were granted residency after September 2015. The exact date of residency is plausible random due to the nature of the asylum process. By using Danish register data, I compare children who were granted residency before and after the benefit reduction and show that reform reduced household income by 22%. Secondly, I find a 19% increase in absence from primary school, driven by an increase in residual absence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social media has become a dominant part of daily lives for many, but excessive use may lead to an experience of stress. Only relatively few studies have investigated social media's influence on mental health. Aims: We aimed to investigate whether social media use is associated with perceived stress and changes in perceived stress over 18 months. Methods: The study population consisted of 25,053 adults (mean age 42.8; 62% women) from the SmartSleep Study. Self-reported frequency of social media use, of 10 specific social media platforms, and of perceived stress (the Perceived Stress Scale 4 item) was obtained at baseline and 18-months follow-up (N = 1745). The associations were evaluated at baseline and follow-up using multiple linear regression models adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Compared to non-use, high social media use (at least every second hour) was associated with a slightly higher perceived stress level at baseline. No association was found between the frequency of social media use and changes in perceived stress during follow-up. Only small differences in these associations were noted across social media platforms. Conclusions: Further studies are needed to comprehensively explore the relationship between excessive social media use and mental health, recognizing different characteristics across social media platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) is a potentially powerful policy instrument for climate change, considering the continued loss of tropical forests. While emissions reductions are the primary aim, the Warsaw Framework for REDD+ recognizes the significance of non-carbon benefits to countries in the Global South. We here attempt to provide a balanced assessment of the achievements over the first decade of this policy instrument, paying special attention to whether non-carbon benefits to tropical countries are materialising. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses principles, 136 studies were identified and screened for evidence. We observe that, while forest governance structures have been strengthened, delivery of environmental and socio-economic non-carbon benefits to forest communities appears to be unsystematic, partly due to the absence of formally agreed guidance on how they could be provided. As REDD+ programmes often impinge directly on the livelihoods of local communities, non-timber forest products are sometimes promoted as alternatives to forestry commodities, even if they provide scant compensation. Except for Ghana's cocoa program, commodity-driven value chains tend to be neglected. As more funds are expected to finance REDD+ programmes, there could be opportunities for innovation in the delivery of non-carbon benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To test the feasibility of a participatory design intervention aimed at reducing the risk of cardio-vascular disease among patients suffering from alcohol use disorder (AUD) or severe mental illness (SMI). Methods: The intervention was developed by patients from the Community Mental Health Center and the Alcohol Treatment Facility in Odense, Denmark, and consisted of eight modules (health interviews, screening and treatment, introduction, diet/alcohol, physical activity, smoking, health app, and sleep problems). The intervention was tested using pre- and post-measurements of selected variables, patients' intervention attendance, and interviews and dialogue workshops at the end of the study. Results: A total of 21 out of 42 eligible patients from the Alcohol Treatment Facility and two out of 443 eligible patients from the Community Mental Health Center accepted participation in the study. The two patients from the Community Mental Health Center were not included in the analyses due to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). All patients accepted being screened for risk factors at inclusion, and the majority enrolled in at least one of the subsequent modules. The study indicated that the patients followed recommendations from their GPs. Conclusions: There is a great need for focus on cardio-vascular disease in patients with SMI and those with AUD. Results indicate that the intervention is feasible for patients with AUD, but due to inclusion of too few patients with SMI, nothing can be concluded for this patient group. Patients and staff in the Alcohol Treatment Facility agreed that the intervention has future perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) offer promise to the play of children with significant physical impairments, as BCI technology can enable disabled children to control computer devices, toys, and robots using only their brain signals. However, there is little research on the unique needs of disabled children when it comes to BCI-enabled play. Thus, this paper explored the lived experiences of play for children with significant physical impairments and examined how BCI could potentially be implemented into disabled children's play experiences by applying a social model of childhood disability. Descriptive qualitative methodology was employed by conducting four semi-structured interviews with two children with significant physical impairments and their parents. We found that disabled children's play can be interpreted as passive or active depending on one's definition and perceptions surrounding play. Moreover, disabled children continue to face physical, economic, and technological barriers in their play, as well as play restrictions from physical impairments. We urge that future research should strive to directly hear from disabled children themselves, as their perspectives may differ from their parents' views. Also, future BCI development should strive to incorporate video games, recreational and entertainment applications/platforms, toys and switch-adapted toys, and power wheelchairs to better support the play of children with significant physical impairments. Implications for Rehabilitation: Assistive technology research should strive to examine the social, infrastructural, and environmental barriers that continue to disable and restrict participation for disabled children and their families through applying a social model of childhood disability and other holistic frameworks that look beyond individual factors Future research that examines the needs and lives of disabled children should strive to directly seek the opinions and perspectives of disabled children themselves Brain-computer interface development should strive to incorporate video games, recreational and entertainment applications/platforms, toys and switch-adapted toys, and power wheelchairs to better support the play of children with significant physical impairments [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the roles, objectives, and trade-offs in a two-pillar pension system consisting of tax-financed, public pensions and defined contribution, individual pensions. A pension system has many moving parts and our aim is to provide the reader with an understanding of how the parts interact and work together, a theme rarely addressed in the literature. In the first part of this paper, we give a qualitative overview of market failures, behavioural aspects, and distributional issues that form the background for a multi-pillar pension system design with mandatory components. In the second part of this paper, we present three thematic, quantitative analyses that illustrate fundamental relationship concerning wealth, inequality, insurance, and demographic changes. This paper also contains a detailed description of the agent-based model used for the analyses. The model is calibrated to Danish data, but the insights drawn from the model are of general validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore experiences of parenting a child with CP and pain. Method: Fourteen mothers and one father of children (9–16) with CP were included. All children had pain regularly, but the frequency and intensity of their pain experiences varied. Their motor function varied from GMFCS level I to V. Cognitive abilities varied from normal to moderate cognitive deficits. All children could express themselves verbally. Semi structured individual interviews were carried out, and results were developed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: The analysis resulted in the main theme "My child's pain is just one piece of a complex jigsaw puzzle". The main theme was developed by four mutually exclusive, but related themes: "My child's struggle burdens me", "Pain and CP direct our everyday life", "I want to be in control, but cannot always be" and "We are the only ones who understand the complexity". Conclusion: Parents of children with CP experience pain as one aspect of a bigger picture. They need help and support to cope with their child's pain, and professional helpers need to address the complexity pain is a part of. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Parents of children with cerebral palsy (CP) experience their child's pain as one piece in a jigsaw puzzle, and counseling needs to address the complexity rather than the separate parts of the picture. Health professionals should support parents in evaluation and management of their child's pain, as a feeling of competence in pain management is important to reduce parental stress. Health professionals should inform themselves about the life situation of parents whose child with CP has pain, and encourage them to seek practical support and apply for relevant support schemes that can make their everyday life easier. Parents of children with CP should be encouraged to take part in a diagnosis-specific support group, where they can meet with others in a similar situation, in order to reduce their feeling of being alone with their challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: A range of diagnostic criteria are applied for the heterogenous patient group with fatigue or postviral fatigue syndromes with or without Post Exertional Malaise (PEM). We explored whether DePaul Symptom Questionnaires (DSQ) based symptoms reported in an open online survey called MECOV, served to identify more homogenous sub-groups. Method: Patients living in Norway were invited to participate in an open online survey in 2022. The questionnaire covered diagnostic history, SARS-CoV-2, general health, RAND-36 and DSQ symptoms, treatments and background information. Results: 2362 patients responded to the survey. 1904 respondents had Fatigue or Postviral disease. 1026 fulfilled CCC criteria with multi-dimensional PEM and 14 h recovery period or ICC criteria for ME. 384 fulfilled IOM/NICE or CCC criteria with only less rigid PEM, while 494 respondents fulfilled only broad fatigue and Fukuda criteria. Self-reported health status, number of treatments tried, and reported effect of activity-based treatments varied significantly across the three groups. Conclusion: DSQ symptom-based survey diagnoses served to identify more homogenous subgroups of patients with Fatigue or Postviral diseases (ME and CFS) and may serve as a valid supplement to standard medical examinations. Symptoms, treatment, management strategies and further research may gain from being tailored to the three sub-groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIntroductionAimMethodsResultsDiscussion and implicationsConclusionsThe prevalence of sleep disorders and use of sleep medication, particularly melatonin, are rising among adolescents and young adults (13–24 years). In Denmark, melatonin is approved for use in children with autism and ADHD up to 18 years of age, with other prescriptions being off-label in these age groups. The perspectives of medical practitioners on prescribing sleep medications to this age group remain largely unexplored.This study aims to investigate the considerations of general practitioners (GPs) and child and adolescent psychiatrists (psychiatrists) when prescribing and deprescribing sleep medications for 13–24-year-olds.We conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews with 10 GPs and six psychiatrists. Data were analyzed using an inductive approach.Psychiatrists typically prescribed melatonin with the expectation that deprescription would occur in general practice. Despite the universal goal of deprescription, it was hindered by various challenges. GPs identified patient motivation and a clear focus on deprescription as facilitative factors and expressed a need for enhanced emphasis on these aspects in general practice.The findings align with existing prescription trends and literature on factors that promote and inhibit deprescription. The study underscores the complexities of deprescribing sleep medications for adolescents and young adults, suggesting the need for expanded guidelines and enhanced continuing education for GPs.The research highlights significant discrepancies among medical practitioners regarding the deprescription process of sleep medications for young individuals, complicated by multiple factors. This underscores the need for better guidelines and further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesMethodResultsConclusionThis study explores the early identification of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients at elevated risk of progression. Haem-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a marker of oxidative stress in inflammation. Here, we investigate HO-1 as a biomarker of oxidative stress and its association with clinical disease activity and radiographic progression in RA.Baseline HO-1 was measured sequentially in plasma samples from patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (eRA) (n = 80). Disease Activity Score based on 28-joint count–C-reactive protein, Clinical Disease Activity Index, and total Sharp score were used to evaluate the disease course serially over 2 years. Paired plasma and synovial fluid samples were examined for HO-1 in active established rheumatoid arthritis (esRA) (n = 20). Plasma from healthy control subjects was also included (n = 35).Plasma HO-1 levels were increased in eRA {1373 pg/mL [interquartile range (IQR) 1110–2050]} and esRA [2034 pg/mL (IQR 1630–2923)] compared with controls [1064 pg/mL (IQR 869.5–1378)]. HO-1 plasma levels decreased with treatment. Baseline HO-1 correlated with disease activity and radiographic progression. A strong, linear correlation was found between synovial and plasma HO-1 levels (r = 0.75, p < 0.001).In eRA, plasma levels of HO-1 were increased and correlated with disease and radiographic progression. A baseline measurement of plasma HO-1 levels demonstrated superior performance to currently used clinical and serological disease markers in the prediction of radiographic progression. Plasma HO-1 may function as a first-in-class biomarker of synovial oxidative stress in RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest in news avoidance has recently grown both inside and outside academia. In this introduction to a special issue on the topic, we present a systematic review of existing studies (N = 116) and discuss what we (don't) know about this phenomenon. Our review illustrates that news avoidance has been examined through qualitative, mixed, but most often quantitative studies, conducted primarily in Western countries, although with important exceptions. We highlight how existing literature portrays news avoidance as a multidimensional phenomenon—encompassing behavioral and expressive components—affected by factors at the levels of the (missing) audiences, the news content, and the broader structural context. In terms of blind spots, we know relatively much about causes for news avoidance and some of its consequences, but less about counterstrategies. Also, while much of our knowledge is centered around audiences, we know little about the roles of other actors, such as the news media, journalists, and intermediaries. We end by discussing what the research field can learn by studying news avoidance, highlighting the value of understanding how audiences relate to journalism through a diverse set of methodological approaches. We also stress the need to carefully consider normative assumptions when positioning news avoidance as a problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores how platform-mediated gig work is entangled in the migration process across transnational, national and local scales. Drawing on the concepts of simultaneity and migration infrastructure from critical transnational migration studies as well as qualitative interviews with migrants, the analysis focuses on the figures of three migrant gig workers from both EU and non-EU countries to elucidate two matters. First, we analyse how different forms of citizenship produce different ways of responding to the migration infrastructure that results in frictions and/or smoothness across different times and spaces in the migration process. Second, we analyse how migrants who perform platform-mediated gig work on a local scale in Copenhagen, Denmark, establish particular transnational lives. Thus, this article contributes a timely transnational perspective on the relationship between the growing gig economy and migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This introduction presents a framework for the contributions to the special issue At Your Service: The Mobilities, Rhythms and Everyday Lives of Migrant Labour in the Gig Economy. The article begins by providing an overview of the current literature on the gig economy and the growing attention towards its relationship to processes of migration. The introduction continues by outlining and discussing three themes that in different ways shape the contributions in the issue. First, we situate the issue in relation to contemporary and historical migration processes and regimes of mobility. Second, we discuss how the articles in this issue explore the rhythms of gig work in relation to the spatio-temporalities of migration regimes and cities increasingly built on a logic of fulfilment. Finally, we draw attention to the infrastructural role of migrant gig workers in midst of the contemporary social reproductive crisis. This perspective opens new avenues for future research with questions of social reproductive justice at its core. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residential mobility, the movement of households within urban areas, is an important issue for urban planning and development. However, little is known on how residential mobility intentions are shaped in densifying cities. Drawing on quantitative and qualitative survey material from the densifying inner city of Oslo, Norway, we investigate potential drivers of intentions to live longer in a neighbourhood of a densifying inner city. Findings show that dwelling ownership, dwelling size, perceived neighbourhood safety, and socializing with friends and neighbours locally are all associated with intentions to live longer in a neighbourhood. Residents of older compact neighbourhoods are found to participate more frequently in activities locally and seem to have stronger local social ties than residents of newly densified neighbourhoods. Moreover, residents' insights suggest that newly densified neighbourhoods are often inadequately designed or developed in terms of physical attributes, and this may contribute to possible moving intentions. These findings shed further light on the challenging path towards liveable urban densification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Cognitive decline is common in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), especially in carriers of the mutation C9ORF72HRE. However, cognitive impairment is poorly understood in carriers of mutations in other genes causing ALS. We performed a comprehensive neuropsychological testing in patients with mutations in the SOD1 (mSOD1) gene. Methods: We examined 5 cognitive domains in 48 symptomatic patients with either hereditary or sporadic ALS. These were compared with 37 matched controls. Results: Carriers of SOD1-mutations and sporadic ALS had circumscribed deficits, but in a pattern different from C9ORF72HRE. All groups had deficits in working memory, although mSOD1-carriers significantly outperform sporadic ALS and C9ORF72HRE in an attention-driven visuospatial task involving copying a complex figure. Carriers of the D90A-SOD1 mutation overall performed as well as or better than carriers of other SOD1-mutations, except complex working memory. Bayesian analyses suggest (with evidence of moderate strength) that tasks involving the language domain did not differ between controls, mSOD1 and sporadic ALS. Conclusion: Distinct cognitive impairments are prevalent in different ALS-syndromes and vary in patients with different pathogenic SOD1 mutations. The type and degree of impairment differed depending on genotype and was significantly least pronounced in patients homozygous for the D90A SOD1 mutation. The presence of cognitive deficits may influence optimal clinical management and intervention. We propose that cognitive assessment should be included in the routine examination of new patients suspected of ALS. Neuropsychological assessment is an under-recognized outcome parameter in clinical drug trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) compared with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and Fluorine-18-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) for diagnosing suspected liver metastases in patients with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: The meta-analysis using the bivariate model included studies on patients with newly diagnosed CRC only and excluded patients with non-CRC liver metastases, known liver metastases, patients treated with chemotherapy and local treatments, e.g. hepatic resection or radiofrequency ablation. We used QUADAS-2 to assess the methodological quality of the studies. Results: We included 32 studies, 6 studies evaluated the accuracy of CEUS (n = 937 participants), 26 studies evaluated CECT (n = 2,582), 8 studies evaluated MRI (n = 564) and 6 studies evaluated FDG-PET/CT (n = 813). Sensitivity: FDG-PET/CT 94.4% [95% CI: 90.7–98.1%], MRI 92.9% [95% CI: 88.8–97.0%], CEUS 86.1% [95% CI: 78.0–94.3%] and CECT 84.6% [95% CI: 79.3–89.9%]. Specificity FDG-PET/CT 97.9% [95% CI: 95.9–99.9%], CEUS 96.1% [95% CI: 93.6–98.6%], MRI 94.4% [95% CI: 90.5–98.3%], and CECT 94.3% [95% CI: 91.8–96.8%]. Conclusion: FDG-PET/CT had significantly higher sensitivity and specificity than CECT, and significantly higher sensitivity than CEUS. MRI had a significantly higher sensitivity than CEUS, but a lower non-significant specificity. CECT had the lowest sensitivity and specificity. PROSPERO registration details: CRD42017055015 and CRD42017082996. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the association between insomnia severity symptoms and menstrual health, fatigue and anxiety symptoms in women at reproductive age. Method: We used data from EPISONO (2007), an epidemiological study from the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Women completed the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) to obtain information about insomnia, fatigue, and anxiety symptoms. For menstrual health, we collected information using our Institutional Women's Questionnaire about menstrual flow and duration, the presence of pain during menstruation and menstrual cycle regularity. The statistical analysis was performed using ordinal logistic regression, considering p <.05. Results: Of the 1,042 participants, only 282 women met the inclusion criteria to participate in this study. The mean age was 34.4 years (SD ± 8.36), and the body mass index (BMI) was 25.7 (SD ± 5.39). According to the model, a 1-unit higher CFS score increased the odds of having more insomnia symptoms in the ISI (OR = 1.170; 95% CI=[1.073; 1.279]; p <.001). In the same way, a 1-unit higher BAI score increased the chance of presenting insomnia symptoms, according to the ISI (OR = 1.072; 95% CI=[1.042; 1.104]; p <.001). The menstrual variables did not represent statistical significance in the model. Conclusions: Fatigue and anxiety symptoms were associated with insomnia symptoms; however, no association was observed between menstrual health and insomnia. The need to examine sleep when there are sleep complaints is essential to provide an accurate diagnosis that facilitates appropriate treatment and to provide better sleep quality for women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemodialysis (HD) patients are at high risk of cardiovascular disease and death. Reliable biomarkers for risk stratification and detection of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are therefore pivotal. Cardiac troponins (cTn) are the preferred biomarkers for AMI. It remains unclear, if cTn concentrations changes as a consequence of HD treatment itself during dialysis. In this study, cTn was compared with soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) and Beta-2-microglobulin (B2M). We performed a prospective study including 17 HD patients measuring high-sensitive cardiac troponin t (hs-cTnT), suPAR and B2M before and after a dialysis session and verified the results in a random subgroup of eight patients from the group by repeating their measurements before and after a dialysis session 15 weeks later. Biomarker concentrations after dialysis were adjusted according to hemodilution or concentration according to the hemoglobin concentration. The average hs-cTnT concentration decreased significantly by −9.9% after dialysis (95% CI: −13.6% to −6.2%). The average (paired) difference were − 6.7 ng/L (p = 0.0104) after dialysis comparing 25 HD treatment occasions. SuPAR was not significantly influenced by dialysis. B2M decreased by −58% after HD as an expected result from the molecular size of the biomarker. The hs-cTnT in average decreased by −9.9% after dialysis. This is a diagnostic challenge since the current guidelines suggest a 20% change in hs-cTnT in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Larger prospective studies investigating the different factors influencing hs-cTnT after HD are warranted. Adjusting biomarker concentrations according to hemodilution or concentration using the hemoglobin concentration, should be considered in future studies to determine more exact changes in concentrations of cTnT and other relevant biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Retina fundus images conducted in Greenland are telemedically assessed for diabetic retinopathy by ophthalmological nurses in Denmark. Applying an AI grading solution, in a Greenlandic setting, could potentially improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of DR screening. Method: We developed an AI model using retina fundus photos, performed on persons registered with diabetes in Greenland and Denmark, using Optos® ultra wide-field scanning laser ophthalmoscope, graded according to ICDR. Using the ResNet50 network we compared the model's ability to distinguish between different images of ICDR severity levels in a confusion matrix. Results: Comparing images with ICDR level 0 to images of ICDR level 4 resulted in an accuracy of 0.9655, AUC of 0.9905, sensitivity and specificity of 96.6%. Comparing ICDR levels 0,1,2 with ICDR levels 3,4, we achieved a performance with an accuracy of 0.8077, an AUC of 0.8728, a sensitivity of 84.6% and a specificity of 78.8%. For the other comparisons, we achieved a modest performance. Conclusion: We developed an AI model using Greenlandic data, to automatically detect DR on Optos retina fundus images. The sensitivity and specificity were too low for our model to be applied directly in a clinical setting, thus optimising the model should be prioritised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross-sectional study sought to assess the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) diagnosis in Greenland among various age groups and examine the corresponding quality of care. We collected data from Greenland's electronic medical records and evaluated the quality of care using six internationally recommended indicators, which are: percentage of AF patients with an assessment of smoking status within the previous year, an assessment of body mass index within the previous year, assessment of blood pressure within the previous year, measurement of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), treatment with an anticoagulant and percentage of patients with a measurement of serum-creatinine. We found the prevalence of AF among patients aged 20 years or older in Greenland to be 1.75% (95% CI 1.62-1.88). We found an increasing prevalence of AF with age and a greater proportion of men than women until the age of 74 years. Our study suggests that the associated quality of care could be higher as the requirement of only one of the six quality indicators was met. A lack of registration may partly explain this, and initiatives to improve the quality of care are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platform-based product development has been applied extensively in discrete manufacturing industry to accommodate changing market demands. Nevertheless, while process industry manufacturers face similar market demands, the topic is only sparsely covered in literature. Through a systematic review of the literature, this study uncovers the definitions used, drivers behind, approaches and methods applied, and industry examples of platform-based product development in the process industry. Based on these analyses, a research agenda is then proposed to further the knowledge of this topic. The study identified existing definitions of key platform-related terms used in several studies and furthermore discovered new definitions for some terms. The most prominent drivers behind pursuing platform-based product development was found to be cost reduction and productivity of product development, with development lead time reduction playing a less significant role. Literature related to platform-based product development focuses primarily on product design and development issues, with less attention given to market, manufacturing, and supply chain issues. Only few industrial cases were identified within the process industry while multiple anecdotal descriptions were discovered. For future research, further insight into key platform concepts, applicability of existing methods, broader value chain focus and detailed industrial cases are considered relevant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigation of extracts from bulbils of Dioscorea bulbifera L. yielded two new norclerodane diterpenoids, diosbulbin N acetate (1) and epi-diosbulbin B (3), together with eleven known compounds. Their structures were established based on spectroscopy. The absolute configurations of 1 and diosbulbin B (2) were determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis using Cu Kα radiation. The absolute configuration of 3 was determined by comparison of its ECD spectrum to that of 2. Isolated phenanthrenes 7, 9 and 10 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against the HelaS3 cell line with IC50 values of 9.03 ± 0.04, 27.13 ± 6.86 and 10.88 ± 2.75 µM, respectively. In addition, 7-9 and 11 showed potent inhibition of NO production by LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the replacement of Libor with alternative reference rates across the world, market participants must now adjust to a variety of changes to both contract terms and market rate dynamics. Focusing mostly on the new SOFR rate in the US, this paper considers the interaction of two important characteristics of SOFR derivatives: the backward-looking settlement style of SOFR floating rate payments; and the historically 'jagged' nature of SOFR time series. We introduce mechanisms that allow us to modify existing term structure models to incorporate rich dynamics for both 'surprising' and anticipated spikes and hikes in overnight rates. Numerical tests on SOFR-style caplets show that such model enhancements can produce significant effects on implied caplet volatility levels and skews. Besides establishing a practitioner-friendly framework for derivatives pricing, our paper is broadly applicable to scenario generation and risk management in any market with discontinuous rates dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 24 May 2022, a gunman entered an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas and fatally shot 19 victims. During the incident, local police were present at the site but did not enter the building to confront the gunman. It was subsequently reported that an Incident Commander mischaracterised the situation as a 'barricaded subject' rather than as an 'active shooter', and officers were ordered to stay out of the scene and to keep student families and bystanders from entering the building. Drawing on qualitative interviews with Incident Commanders, Critical Incident Commanders, Emergency Planners, and Tactical and Public Order Unit personnel, our research seeks to better understand the influence of various stressors on decision-making in high-risk, high-profile events. This paper presents an analysis of these interviews that considers four important questions: 1. Who becomes an IC? 2. What is the function of an IC during a major, critical, and public order incident? 3. What factors influence IC decision-making? and 4. What are the sources of stress involved in IC decision-making and work? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delays at court are an everlasting and potentially consequential reality of criminal justice systems, although most would agree that the timely adjudication of cases is needed from both administrative, judicial, and individual perspectives. This paper uses administrative data and a policy reform in Denmark in 2007 to measure the unconfounded association between court delays – or, more specifically, time to adjudication – and criminal recidivism within 5 years. Results show that although court delays do not push more people into recidivism, the delays matter for how many crimes recidivists end up being convicted of. Also, criminality tends to be muted during the period from charge to adjudication (even in a context with low use of pretrial detention and no bail system), whereby court delays also matter for the timing of new crimes – a finding with important theoretical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to develop and assess a protocol for evaluating upper limb strength and its association with functional abilities in children and adolescents diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). A cross-sectional study. Eleven male individuals diagnosed with DMD (aged 11 to 18 years). A systematic protocol for assessing the maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of the upper limbs using grip and pull dynamometers was developed and conducted in conjunction with the Performance of Upper Limb (PUL) scale. Feasibility was evaluated by appraising the number of participants capable of successfully executing the strength test protocol. Correlations were conducted to examine the relationship between upper limb strength and PUL scores. The grip strength assessment was feasible for all participants, while the complete strength testing protocol was feasible for nine, excluding two individuals with non-ambulatory mobility. Significant correlations were found between overall upper limb strength and total PUL scores (rs = 0.742, p = 0.022), grip strength and distal PUL scores (rs=0.733, p = 0.010), shoulder abduction strength and PUL shoulder scores (rs=0.905, p = 0.005), and grip strength and overall PUL scores (rs=0.794, p = 0.004). The middle-level correlation was not statistically significant (rs=0.590, p = 0.094). The established strength test protocol demonstrated feasibility among ambulatory participants. However, alternative approaches are essential for those with limited ambulation. The study identified a robust correlation between upper limb strength and functional abilities. Further extensive studies are required to validate these findings. The present study is a part of a longitudinal intervention study registered at the ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03963453). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to assess compliance with maximum residue levels in foods and evaluate the exposure of the Danish population to pesticides, a comprehensive monitoring programme was conducted. The work from 2012-2017 involved testing pesticide residues in fruits, vegetables, cereals, animal product and processed commodities. The sampling strategy, mainly based on exposure calculations and previous findings, involved the collection of 13,492 samples primarily from fresh conventional and organic produces on the Danish market. The origin of the samples varied, with 34% being of Danish origin and 67% originating from EU and non-EU countries. The results revealed that residues in conventionally grown produce were detected in 54% of the fruit and vegetable samples, and 30% of the cereal samples. Additionally, residues above the maximum residue limits were found in 1.8% of these samples, most frequently in fruits. As previous years, more residues were found in samples of foreign origin compared to samples of Danish origin. Compared to earlier findings more than 40 pesticides were detected for the first time and including boscalid, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, etofenprox, and spinosad, all detected more than 100 times. The data shows that detection of PFAS pesticides has increased dramatically, from 24 in 2006 to 412 in 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within linguistics and educational research, language awareness (LA) has been studied for decades. Despite the extensive use of the concept and several conceptualizations, systematic empirical research examining students' LA across educational levels in the context of plurilingual education is still lacking. The article seeks to fill this gap by introducing a theoretically and empirically based conceptualization of LA across educational levels in the context of plurilingual education and, based on the conceptualization, presents findings from a within- and cross-case analysis exploring students' expressions of LA in primary, lower, and upper secondary education. As part of an exploratory embedded multiple-case study, interview data are coded and analysed through a qualitative content analysis. The case study found that students across educational levels expressed metalinguistic awareness (MLA) and critical language awareness (CLA) revealing similarities and differences in respect to the learners' age and language resources as well as signs of complexification, e.g. through more nuanced MLA expressions and concretisations reflecting that the students drew on a broader range of experiences. The students' MLA and CLA are framed by the students' plurilingualism representing a diversity of language resources, while also showing a preoccupation with languages that are not represented in the educational system. SAMMENDRAG (IN DANISH): Inden for lingvistisk og sprogdidaktisk forskning har sproglig opmærksomhed (SO, language awareness) være undersøgt i årtier. Til trods for den store brug af begrebet og flere konceptualiseringer, findes der ingen systematisk empirisk forskning der undersøger elevers SO på tværs af uddannelsesniveauer i rammen af en flersprogethedsdidaktik. Artiklen søger at bidrage med ny viden til feltet ved at introducere en teori- og empiribaseret konceptualisering af SO på tværs af uddannelsesniveauer i rammen af en flersprogethedsdidaktik og med afsæt heri præsentere empiriske fund fra interviews, der afdækker, hvordan grundskole- og gymnasieelever giver udtryk for SO. Interviewdataene, som er en del af et eksplorativt og fokuseret multicasestudie, er kodet og analyseret via en kvalitativ indholdsanalyse baseret på en fælles kodningsmanual med kategorier udsprunget af konceptualiseringen. Casestudiet viser at elever på tværs af uddannelsesniveauer giver udtryk for metasproglig opmærksomhed (MSO) og kritisk sproglig opmærksomhed (KSO), som viser ligheder og forskelle i forhold til elevernes aldre og sproglige ressourcer samt tegn på en kompleksificering, fx via mere nuancerede udtryksmåder og konkretiseringer, der afspejler, at eleverne trækker på en bredere vifte af erfaringer. Elevernes flersprogethed, der repræsenterer en mangfoldighed af sproglige ressourcer, udgør en referenceramme for deres MSO og KSO, men samtidig viser eleverne også en optagethed af sprog i verden, som ikke er repræsenteret i uddannelsessystemet. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: The article examines language awareness in the context of a plurilingual education which (1) builds bridges between languages students already know, including languages learnt in school, (2) integrates languages that are related to languages students already know and (3) opens towards language diversity in general, covering all kind of languages, e.g. students' first languages. The article is interested in how students in Grade 1 (age 7/8), Grade 7 (age13/14) and Grade 11 (age 17/18) in interviews express language awareness, when their teaching was based on plurilingual education. To investigate the students' language awareness, the article introduces a model that has been developed on the basis of research literature and the analysis of student data in the project Plurilingual Education – Minority and Majority Students' Language Awareness across Educational Levels. The study shows that students in all three grades express language awareness revealing similarities and differences in respect to the students' age and language resources. The analysis across the educational levels indicates a complexification, e.g. through more nuanced expressions and concretisations reflecting that the students draw on a broader range of experiences. Furthermore, the study shows that the students make use of their own plurilingualism, including the students' first languages and languages learnt in school, when they express language awareness, and that they are very preoccupied with languages not usually taught in the education system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capsule: The breeding productivity of the Common Scoter population in Scotland's Flow Country remained relatively stable during a 44% population decline in Britain and Ireland. Aim: To investigate breeding productivity changes in the eastern Flow Country's Common Scoter population over 22 years and identify possible threats and causes of change during a period of national population decline. Methods: Common Scoters from 32 breeding sites were surveyed annually between 2002 and 2023. Each site was visited two to three times in May (pre-nesting period) and two to three times in July and August (post-hatching period) to record the numbers of adult and juvenile Common Scoters. Results: Between 2002 and 2023, whilst the Common Scoter population declined (approximately 44% from 27 to 15 breeding pairs) across the study area, breeding productivity (defined as large ducklings per female) remained stable, averaging 0.44 (range of annual means 0.00–1.06) large ducklings per female. The number of small ducklings per female also remained relatively stable. A year of higher breeding productivity did not result in an increase in the number of breeding females in the following years, suggesting that the cause of the population decline lies away from the breeding region. Conclusion: Breeding productivity needs to increase, and poor breeding seasons need to be prevented to help maintain this population. The causes of the Common Scoter's decline away from the breeding area need to be resolved to prevent local extinction. This could be assisted with the removal of non-native forestry plantations in the area, which has been observed to benefit other ground-nesting species by alleviating predation pressure, and by maintaining lake habitat quality, as reflected in shallow water and abundant large invertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a review of Deborah Valenze's book, "The Invention of Scarcity: Malthus & the Margins of History." The review discusses the misconceptions surrounding Thomas Malthus and his theory of population growth. It argues that Malthus was not a "gloomy prophet" predicting catastrophe, but rather concerned with the present and the proportion between population and food. The review also addresses the misconception that Malthus recommended war, famine, and disease as remedies for overpopulation, emphasizing that Malthus actually advocated for moral restraint and increased production of provisions. The review highlights the need for a more accurate understanding of Malthus and his ideas. [Extracted from the article]

Multilevel factors (individual and structural) influence adherence to antiretroviral therapy, particularly in high HIV prevalence areas such as South Africa. The present study examined the relative importance of structural barriers to HIV care and behavioral health factors, depression and alcohol use, in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa. People receiving HIV care in six primary care clinics in Khayelitsha (N = 194) completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, the Structural Barriers to Medication Taking questionnaire, and a qualitative rating of past-two-week adherence. Correlations were employed to examine associations among these variables, and hierarchical regression analysis was used to examine the unique effects of structural barriers over and above depression and alcohol use as predictors of adherence. Participants were primarily Black South African (99%) women (83%), and 41 years old on average. All four variables were significantly correlated. The hierarchical regression analysis showed that among behavioral health predictors, alcohol use alone significantly predicted ART adherence (b = -.032, p =.002). When structural barriers was added to the model, it was the only significant unique predictor of ART adherence (b = −1.58, p <.001). Findings highlight the need to consider structural vulnerabilities in HIV care in South Africa when developing behavioral health interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curvatures of the body can disrupt fluid flow and affect hydrodynamic resistance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a feedback intervention on glide performance and torso morphology. Eleven male and female national swimmers performed glides before and after augmented feedback. Feedback consisted of self-modelling visual feedback and verbal cuing, to manipulate body curvatures that affect hydrodynamic resistance. Two-dimensional landmark position data (knee, hip and shoulder) were used to enable computation of glide factor and glide coefficient as indicators of glide efficiency; posture (trunk incline and hip angle); and performance (horizontal velocity). Underwater images of the swimmers were manually traced to derive transverse and sagittal diameters, cross-sectional areas, and continuous form outlines (anterior and posterior) of the torso. Maximum rate of change in cross-sectional area and form gradient progressing caudally, were calculated for torso segments: shoulder-chest, chest-waist, waist-hip. Mean velocity, glide factor and glide coefficient values significantly (p< 0.001) improved due to the intervention, with large effect size (d) changes 0.880 (p= 0.015), 2.297 and 1.605, respectively. Significant changes to form gradients were related to reductions in lumbar lordosis and chest convexity. The study provides practical cuing phrases for coaches and swimmers to improve glide efficiency and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in the world. Exercise is widely recommended for patients with breast cancer during and after treatment. However, there is a lack of studies investigating barriers related to participation in real-world exercise-based trials for older patients with breast cancer. To explore reasons for declining participation in an exercise-based trial among older patients with breast cancer during (neo)adjuvant or palliative systemic treatment. A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. Patients who declined participation in an exercise-based trial (N = 50) were invited to participate. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 participants. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis. Identified main themes: 1) Lack of energy and resources, including two subthemes: 1a) Overwhelmed both mentally and physically, and 1b) The program is too comprehensive; 2) Uncertainty about reactions to chemotherapy; 3) The hospital is not the optimal exercise setting, including two subthemes: 3a) Transportation and time consumption, and 3b) No desire to spend additional time at the hospital; and 4) Staying active in my own way, including two subthemes: 4a) Motivation to exercise, and 4b) Preferences for exercise activities. Many barriers were identified, including time of recruitment, information overload, symptoms and side effects, and the hospital as the exercise setting due to practical challenges and negative feelings. Participants were motivated to exercise from knowledge about the benefits of exercising. Furthermore, they preferred activities that they were already involved in or had experience with. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In April 2021 Stavå bridge, a main bridge on E6 in Norway, was abruptly closed for traffic. A structural defect had seriously compromised the bridge's structural integrity. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA) closed it, made a temporary solution and reopened with severe traffic restrictions. The incident was alerted through what constitutes the bridge's Digital Twin processing data from Internet of Things sensors. The solution was crucial in online and offline diagnostics, the case demonstrating the value of technologies to tackle emerging dangerous situations as well as acting preventively. A critical and rapidly developing damage was detected in time to stop the development, but not in time to avoid the incident altogether. The paper puts risk in a broader perspective for an organization responsible for highway infrastructure. It positions online monitoring and Digital Twins in the context of Risk- and Condition-Based Maintenance. The situation that arose at Stavå bridge, and how it was detected, analysed, and diagnosed during virtual inspection, is described. The case demonstrates how combining physics-based methods with Machine Learning can facilitate damage detection and diagnostics. A summary of lessons learnt, both from technical and organisational perspectives, as well as plans of future work, is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This umbrella review addresses the relation between physical activity (PA) for children and youth with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and positive outcomes. A systematic literature search in Medline, PsychInfo, and ERIC revealed 338 records, and 20 review articles were included in the analysis. The review articles referred to 130 different and mainly small empirical studies. Overall, the reviews suggest that PA can function as an effective intervention for children and youth with ADHD on: 1) cognition, 2) social-emotion and behavioural regulation, 3) fitness and motor control, and 4) neural function. However, results are mixed and the quality of the intervention (intensity, duration, frequency, length and type of exercise), participant and environmental characteristics, and relational aspects are discussed here as aspects that could affect the outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Holding multiple elections simultaneously, also known as concurrent elections, is well known to benefit electoral systems by increasing the rate of voter turnout. Essentially, the public becomes more willing to participate in voting because they can vote for more offices, and more prominent offices, at once and thus have a greater influence upon the functioning of government in a more efficient manner. However, very little is known about what happens with the electorate outside of the simple increase in voting. Just because citizens choose to vote, it does not mean that they actually pay attention to all the campaigns or feel that their participation is valuable. Using 20 years of American National Election Study survey data, and focusing primarily on the relatively low-salience House of Representatives, this paper examines the psychological effects of concurrent elections in the United States. It concludes that, while concurrent elections do boost turnout, lower-salience candidates receive less attention during concurrent elections, leading the public to rate them more negatively and know less about them. Higher-salience office candidates avoid these negative consequences. Thus there is a trade-off with concurrent elections – more people tend to vote when multiple offices are contested simultaneously but those voters also tend to focus on the higher offices and ignore the bottom of the ballot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N2O measurements by liquid sensors in aerated tanks are an input to gas-liquid mass-transfer models for the prediction of N2O off-gas emissions. The prediction of N2O emissions from Water Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRFs) was evaluated by three different mass-transfer models using Benchmark Simulation Model 1 (BSM1) as a reference model. Inappropriate selection of mass-transfer model may result in miscalculation of carbon footprints based on soluble N2O online measurements. The film theory considers a constant mass-transfer expression, while more complex models suggest that emissions are affected by the aeration type, efficiency, and tank design characteristics. The differences among model predictions were 10–16% at dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration of 0.6 g/m3, when biological N2O production was the highest, while the flux of N2O was 20.0–24 kg N2O-N/d. At lower DO, the nitrification rate was low, while at DO higher than 2 g/m3, the N2O production was reduced leading to higher rates of complete nitrification and a flux of 5 kg N2O-N/d. The differences increased to 14–26% in deeper tanks, due to the pressure assumed in the tanks. The predicted emissions are also affected by the aeration efficiency when KLaN2O depends on the airflow instead of the KLaO2. Increasing the nitrogen loading rate under DO concentration of 0.50–0.65 g/m3 increased the differences in predictions by 10–20% in both alpha 0.6 and 1.2. A sensitivity analysis indicated that the selection of different mass-transfer models did not affect the selection of biochemical parameters for N2O model calibration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mashing is a decisive brewing step, affecting wort quality. Critical mashing parameters include time, temperature, pH, mash density and oxygen uptake. While the pH-dependent biochemical changes during mashing have been researched, the oxidative processes remain unclear. This work explores the impact of pH conditions during mashing on the biochemical composition and oxidative properties of wort. In laboratory trials, mashing was conducted at different mashing-in pH (4.5, 5.0, 5.2, 5.4, 6.0). The sweet worts were analyzed for extract, fermentable sugars, limit dextrins, amino acids, soluble proteins, polyphenols, color, aldehydes, transition metals, reducing potential, and rate of radical formation. Differences were found in enzymatic activities (particularly proteolysis), color, aldehydes, transition metal ions, the rate of radical formation and the rate of oxygen consumption. Notably, when adjusting the pH at mashing-in, the obtained wort tends to gravitate toward the pH of the unadjusted wort, underscoring its buffering capacity. This was reflected by similar properties of the produced worts, indicating pH playing a lesser role during mashing compared to time/temperature. However, under extreme acidified conditions (pH 4.5 at mashing-in), the produced wort markedly deviates. An intriguing negative correlation between the reducing potential and the content of transition metal ions with the rate of radical formation is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAimMaterials and methodsResultsConclusionThis study aimed to survey general practitioners’ (GPs) and radiologists’ perspectives on referrals, imaging justification, and unnecessary imaging in Norway.The survey covered access to imaging, responsibilities, attitudes toward justification assessment, referral process, and demographics using multiple choice questions, statements to report agreement with using the Likert scale and one open question.Forty radiologists and 58 GPs attending national conferences completed a web-based survey, with a 20/15% response rate, respectively. Both radiologists (97%) and GPs (100%) considered avoiding unnecessary examinations essential to their role in the healthcare service. Still, 91% of GPs admitted that they referred to imaging they thought was not helpful, while about 60% of the radiologists agreed that unnecessary imaging was conducted in their workplace. GPs reported pressure from patients and patients having private insurance as the most common reasons for doing unnecessary examinations. In contrast, radiologists reported a lack of clinical information and the inability to discuss patient cases with the GPs as the most common reasons.This study adds to our understanding of radiologists’ and GPs’ perspectives on unnecessary imaging and referrals. Better guidelines and, even more importantly, better communication between the referrer and the radiologist are needed. Addressing these issues can reduce unnecessary imaging and improve the quality and safety of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the literature, marginalisation is vaguely defined as a state, a process, or both. Qualitative research has indicated that many students experience temporary marginalisation at some point in school, suggesting that the phenomenon is best characterised as fleeting. This presents a challenge for researchers in terms of measuring marginalisation as a (more) fixed state, making it difficult to assess the scope of the problem. Data on students (grades 4–10; ages 10–16) from Programme for Learning Management (N = 122,756) were analysed across three measurement points (2015, 2017, and 2019). The Social Marginalisation Scale (SMS) was developed to specifically measure the social aspects of marginalisation on a scale [1–5]. It was subsequently divided into four equal intervals. It was estimated that 3–3.5% of the students experienced social marginalisation to a high or very high extent. The degree of social marginalisation was largely stable across measurement points, indicating that some students experience prolonged social marginalisation. Grade level and gender were both significant predictors, indicating that girls and younger students experience greater social marginalisation on average. A longitudinal study is recommended to identify student groups who experience prolonged social marginalisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPurposeMaterials and methodsResultsConclusion\nIMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONTo investigate how people with neuromuscular disease or spinal cord injury experience living with a personal assistance service.Qualitative study using the Interpretive Description methodology with Aaron Antonovsky’s theory of sense of coherence as a theoretical framework. The method was semi-structured individual interviews (n = 3) and focus group interviews (n = 5). In all, 19 adults with neuromuscular disease (n = 13) or spinal cord injury (n = 6) participated. The study adhered to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines.Three themes were identified to understand living with personal assistance and how this affected everyday life: 1) Making meaning of a personal assistance service, 2) Managing a personal assistance service, and 3) Living with a personal shadow. Our findings provide an understanding of living with assistance and how it, among other things, is influenced by the legislation and the local authorities’ administration of the service. Participants explained this by an experience of a sense of coherence.For people with NMD and SCI, there are complex nuances associated with living with a personal assistance service. The findings illustrate that despite personal challenges of managing assistance services, it can meaningfully contribute to one’s life by enhancing one’s sense of coherence.Policy initiatives are important to help people living with neuromuscular disease (NMD) or spinal cord injury (SCI) access flexible personal assistance services, which can enable them to lead independent lives with enhanced meaningfulness.Professionals of people with NMD and SCI should provide knowledge and counseling on how to manage their personal assistance service, which includes taking into account practical, physical, and psychosocial considerations.To ensure optimizing the design and delivery of personal assistance services for the NMD and SCI populations, it is critical that policymakers are made aware of both the positive and challenging aspects of personal assistance services, and should consider engaging persons with lived experience when developing (or re-evaluating) them.Policy initiatives are important to help people living with neuromuscular disease (NMD) or spinal cord injury (SCI) access flexible personal assistance services, which can enable them to lead independent lives with enhanced meaningfulness.Professionals of people with NMD and SCI should provide knowledge and counseling on how to manage their personal assistance service, which includes taking into account practical, physical, and psychosocial considerations.To ensure optimizing the design and delivery of personal assistance services for the NMD and SCI populations, it is critical that policymakers are made aware of both the positive and challenging aspects of personal assistance services, and should consider engaging persons with lived experience when developing (or re-evaluating) them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]