Hasil untuk "Norway"

Björn Nystedt, N. Street, Anna Wetterbom et al.

Conifers have dominated forests for more than 200 million years and are of huge ecological and economic importance. Here we present the draft assembly of the 20-gigabase genome of Norway spruce (Picea abies), the first available for any gymnosperm. The number of well-supported genes (28,354) is similar to the >100 times smaller genome of Arabidopsis thaliana, and there is no evidence of a recent whole-genome duplication in the gymnosperm lineage. Instead, the large genome size seems to result from the slow and steady accumulation of a diverse set of long-terminal repeat transposable elements, possibly owing to the lack of an efficient elimination mechanism. Comparative sequencing of Pinus sylvestris, Abies sibirica, Juniperus communis, Taxus baccata and Gnetum gnemon reveals that the transposable element diversity is shared among extant conifers. Expression of 24-nucleotide small RNAs, previously implicated in transposable element silencing, is tissue-specific and much lower than in other plants. We further identify numerous long (>10,000 base pairs) introns, gene-like fragments, uncharacterized long non-coding RNAs and short RNAs. This opens up new genomic avenues for conifer forestry and breeding.

R. Gibbs, G. Weinstock, M. Metzker et al.

Kristin Ystmark Bjerkan, T. Norbech, M. Nordtømme

Abstract Norway has become a global forerunner in the field of electromobility and the BEV market share is far higher than in any other country. One likely reason for this is strong incentives for promoting purchase and ownership of BEVs. The purpose of this study is to describe the role of incentives for promoting BEVs, and to determine what incentives are critical for deciding to buy a BEV and what groups of buyers respond to different types of incentives. The questions are answered with data from a survey among nearly 3400 BEV owners in Norway. Exemptions from purchase tax and VAT are critical incentives for more than 80% of the respondents. This is very much in line with previous research, which suggests that up-front price reduction is the most powerful incentive in promoting EV adoption. To a substantial number of BEV owners, however, exemption from road tolling or bus lane access is the only decisive factor. Analyses show that there are clear delineations between incentive groups, both in terms of age, gender, and education. Income is a less prominent predictor, which probably results from the competitive price of BEVs in the Norwegian market. Perhaps most interesting is the assumed relation between incentives and character of transport systems the respondents engage in.

A. Pottegård, L. Lund, Ø. Karlstad et al.

Abstract Objective To assess rates of cardiovascular and haemostatic events in the first 28 days after vaccination with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine ChAdOx1-S in Denmark and Norway and to compare them with rates observed in the general populations. Design Population based cohort study. Setting Nationwide healthcare registers in Denmark and Norway. Participants All people aged 18-65 years who received a first vaccination with ChAdOx1-S from 9 February 2021 to 11 March 2021. The general populations of Denmark (2016-18) and Norway (2018-19) served as comparator cohorts. Main outcome measures Observed 28 day rates of hospital contacts for incident arterial events, venous thromboembolism, thrombocytopenia/coagulation disorders, and bleeding among vaccinated people compared with expected rates, based on national age and sex specific background rates from the general populations of the two countries. Results The vaccinated cohorts comprised 148 792 people in Denmark (median age 45 years, 80% women) and 132 472 in Norway (median age 44 years, 78% women), who received their first dose of ChAdOx1-S. Among 281 264 people who received ChAdOx1-S, the standardised morbidity ratio for arterial events was 0.97 (95% confidence interval 0.77 to 1.20). 59 venous thromboembolic events were observed in the vaccinated cohort compared with 30 expected based on the incidence rates in the general population, corresponding to a standardised morbidity ratio of 1.97 (1.50 to 2.54) and 11 (5.6 to 17.0) excess events per 100 000 vaccinations. A higher than expected rate of cerebral venous thrombosis was observed: standardised morbidity ratio 20.25 (8.14 to 41.73); an excess of 2.5 (0.9 to 5.2) events per 100 000 vaccinations. The standardised morbidity ratio for any thrombocytopenia/coagulation disorders was 1.52 (0.97 to 2.25) and for any bleeding was 1.23 (0.97 to 1.55). 15 deaths were observed in the vaccine cohort compared with 44 expected. Conclusions Among recipients of ChAdOx1-S, increased rates of venous thromboembolic events, including cerebral venous thrombosis, were observed. For the remaining safety outcomes, results were largely reassuring, with slightly higher rates of thrombocytopenia/coagulation disorders and bleeding, which could be influenced by increased surveillance of vaccine recipients. The absolute risks of venous thromboembolic events were, however, small, and the findings should be interpreted in the light of the proven beneficial effects of the vaccine, the context of the given country, and the limitations to the generalisability of the study findings.

A. Mersky, F. Sprei, C. Samaras et al.

B. Åsvold, A. Langhammer, T. Rehn et al.

In the HUNT Study, all residents aged [≥]20 years in the Nord-Trondelag region, Norway have been invited to repeated surveys since 1984-86. The study data may be linked to local and national health registries. The HUNT4 survey in 2017-19 included 56 042 participants in Nord-Trondelag and 107 711 participants in the neighboring Sor-Trondelag region. The HUNT4 data enable more long-term follow-up, studies of life-course health trajectories, and within-family studies. New measures include body composition analysis using bioelectrical impedance; a one-week accelerometer recording; physical and cognitive testing in older adults; measurements of hemoglobin and blood cell counts, HbA1c and phosphatidylethanol; and genotyping. Researchers can apply for HUNT data access from HUNT Research Centre if they have obtained project approval from the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics, see www.ntnu.edu/hunt/data.

M. Menebo

This study aims to analyze the correlation between weather and covid-19 pandemic in the capital city of Norway, Oslo. This study employed a secondary data analysis of covid-19 surveillance data from the Norwegian public health institute and weather data from the Norwegian Meteorological institute. The components of weather include minimum temperature (°C), maximum temperature (°C), temperature average (°C), normal temperature (°C), precipitation level (mm) and wind speed (m/s). Since normality was not fulfilled, a non-parametric correlation test was used for data analysis. Maximum temperature (r = 0.347; p = .005), normal temperature(r = 0.293; p = .019), and precipitation level (r = −0.285; p = .022) were significantly correlated with covid-19 pandemic. The finding might serve as an input to a strategy making in the prevention of covid-19 as the country prepare to enter into a new weather season.

K. Friis

I. Ahuja, Egidijus Daukšas, J. Remme et al.

This paper reviews relevant knowledge about the production and uses of fertilizers from fish and fish waste (FW) that may be applicable for certified organic farming, with a focus on crop and horticultural plants. Fish industries generate a substantial amount of FW. Depending on the level of processing or type of fish, 30-70% of the original fish is FW. Circular economy and organic farming concepts were used to evaluate the potential of production of fertilizers from captured fish. Fertilizers produced from captured fish promote the recycling of nutrients from the sea and back to terrestrial environments. Nutritional composition of FW is assessed to determine the potential to supply plant nutrients such as nitrogen, or a combination of nitrogen and phosphorous, or to enrich a compost. Methods used in processing of FW to produce fish- emulsion, fish hydrolysate/fish silage, fish-compost and digestate from anaerobic digestion/co-digestion are presented. Using information about commercially available fish-based fertilizers listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), we present a scenario for establishing fish/FW-based fertilizers industry and research in Europe. With Norway's 9th position among top ten global capture producers and focus in Norway on developing organic farming, we brief how FW is currently utilized and regulated, and discuss its availability for possible production of FW-based organic fertilizers. The amount of FW available in Norway for production of fertilizers may facilitate the establishment of an industrial product that can replace the currently common use of dried poultry manure from conventional farming in organic farming.

V. Vitali, U. Büntgen, J. Bauhus

Kirsti Grøtan, E. Sund, O. Bjerkeset

Student life can be stressful and for some students it may cause mental distress. Besides being a major public health challenge, mental distress can influence academic achievement. The main objectives of the current study were to examine associations of mental distress with academic self-efficacy and study progress. A secondary aim was to examine mental health help seeking for students with mental distress. Data was derived from the Norwegian Students’ health and welfare survey 2014 (SHOT 2014) which is the first major survey comprising questions of both mental health, academic self-efficacy and psychosocial factors amongst students. Utilizing these data for a Norwegian region, we found that 749 (31%) of the 2430 Norwegian full-time students under the age of 35 responded to the survey. Symptoms of mental distress were measured using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-25) and academic self-efficacy was measured using a Norwegian version of the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) tailored to the academic setting. Demographic-, social, lifestyle, and study-related variables were included in the analyses. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between mental distress, academic self-efficacy, and academic performance. Seventeen percent reported severe symptoms of psychological distress which is similar to the overall prevalence among students in Norway. Students reporting severe mental distress were four times as likely to report low academic self-efficacy and twice as likely to report delayed study progress compared to students reporting few or moderate symptoms of mental distress. 27% of those reporting severe mental distress had sought professional help whereas 31% had considered seeking help. The study showed that there was a strong association between symptoms of mental distress, academic self-efficacy and study progress. Prospective studies should evaluate whether improved help-seeking and psychological treatment can promote students mental health and ultimately improve academic self-efficacy and study progress.

Sabrina Scherzer, Päivi Lujala, J. K. Rød

Abstract In recent years, building disaster resilient communities has become a primary objective of crisis management institutions across the globe, as a resilient community is likely to suffer fewer losses and recover more quickly when faced with an adverse event. However, in order to strengthen a community's resilience, one needs to first establish a baseline, an initial measure that can be used to compare communities and to track changes over time. This article presents such a baseline, a community resilience index, for Norway. Following the approach outlined by the Baseline Resilience Indicators for Communities (BRIC), the article constructs a hierarchical index, using 47 indicators divided into six subdomains, to describe the resilience capacities of the Norwegian municipalities. The results show considerable variations in the relative levels of resilience. Most markedly, there seems to be a north-south divide; i.e., many of the northern municipalities having lower levels of overall resilience and many of the southern municipalities having higher levels of overall resilience. These initial observations are further analysed by deconstructing the overall index into its components to identify driving forces behind the overall resilience score. To validate the results, the resilience scores are compared to previously established vulnerability metrics. The resilience and vulnerability metrics are then used to identify potential low-risk (high resilience, low vulnerability) and high-risk (low resilience, high vulnerability) areas across Norway.

T. Forseth, B. Barlaup, B. Finstad et al.

Torbjørn Forseth*, Bjørn T. Barlaup, Bengt Finstad, Peder Fiske, Harald Gjøsæter, Morten Falkegård, Atle Hindar, Tor Atle Mo, Audun H. Rikardsen, Eva B. Thorstad, Leif Asbjørn Vøllestad, and Vidar Wennevik Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, P.O. Box 5685 Sluppen, Trondheim N-7485, Norway Uni Research Environment, P.O. Box 7810, Bergen N-5020, Norway Institute of Marine Research, P.O. Box 1870 Nordnes, Bergen N-5817, Norway Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalléen 21, Oslo N-0349, Norway Norwegian Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 750 Sentrum, Oslo N-0106, Norway UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø N-9037, Norway Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, P.O. Box 1066, Blindern, Oslo N-0316, Norway *Corresponding author: tel: þ47 926 43437; e-mail: torbjorn.forseth@nina.no.

Petter Gottschalk

The theory of convenience addresses white-collar and corporate crime. The theory is applied in this article to a case study of Norwegian publishing houses having to pay infringement fees because of competition act violation. Cartel members agreed and coordinated a boycott of a distribution channel. This article reviews the research literature on cartels before presenting the convenience case study. Combatting cartels is a matter of reducing the attractiveness and convenience of joining cartels. Guardianship, oversight, and controls are at the core of reducing deviance convenience. Detection is an element of oversight. However, detection is rare, as this case illustrated by email sent by mistake. Combatting cartels is a matter of control at the top of organizations where typically each chief executive officer (CEO) is involved. Therefore, the corporate compliance officer should never report to the CEO but rather to the chairperson on the board and to the external auditor.

Scott Jess, Heike Gröger, Bart Hendriks et al.

The northeast (NE) Atlantic is one of the best-studied geological regions in the world, incorporating a wide array of geological phenomena including extensional tectonism, passive margin development, orogenesis, and breakup-related volcanism. Apatite fission-track (AFT) thermochronology has been an important tool in studying the onshore evolution of the NE Atlantic for several decades. Unfortunately, large regional-scale studies are rare, making it difficult to study geological processes across the whole region. In this work, a compilation of published AFT data is presented from across Fennoscandia, the British Isles, East Greenland, and Svalbard, with the goal of providing an accessible overview of the data and how this vast body of work has improved our understanding of the region’s evolution. Alongside a review of previous literature, interpolated maps of fission track age and mean track length (MTL) highlight regional trends in the data that may result from major first-order processes and areas of low sample density that should be targeted for future study. Additionally, in the absence of metadata required for thermal history modeling, apparent exhumation rate estimates are calculated from available elevation profiles and the timing of major exhumation events inferred from “boomerang plots” of fission track ages against MTL values. Across Fennoscandia, data suggests that the opening of the NE Atlantic and exhumation of the margin have clearly played a major role in the thermal history of the upper crust. The remaining areas of Britain, Ireland, East Greenland, and Svalbard all present more complex trends consistent with a combination of the NE Atlantic’s opening and the interplay between specific bedrock geology of sampling sites and localized geological processes. Areas of low sample density include southern Britain, NE Britain, southeast Greenland, southern Svalbard, and Eastern Fennoscandia, each of which provides the natural laboratory required to answer many unresolved questions.

Stine Lehmann, Jens Christoffer Skogen, Gro Mjeldheim Sandal et al.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a worldwide health- and societal crisis. Youth were exposed to enduring stressors. We examined types and load of stressors faced by youth, and their use of coping strategies. A population-based sample within Bergen municipality, Norway (N = 1031, 11–19 years) completed the Response to Stress Questionnaire 9 months into the pandemic. Social stressors were most frequent, with secondary control engagement being the most used coping strategy. Stress and coping strategies differed depending on sex, age, and socioeconomic status. Heightened stress were associated with primary and secondary control engagement, and disengagement. Thus, youth employed a range of coping strategies to an increasing degree with heightened levels of COVID-19 stress. The frequency of secondary control engagement aligns with the enduring uncontrollable nature of the outbreak. For future health crises, authorities should focus on social stressors experienced by youth, especially among girls, older youth, and youth with low socioeconomic status.

P. Stévant, C. Rebours, A. Chapman

The use of cultivated seaweeds as a feedstock for multiple industrial applications has gained increasing interest in the Western World over the past decades. Norway has an extensive coastline and a well-established aquaculture sector offering suitable preconditions for developing large-scale cultivation of seaweed biomass both in monoculture and in Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) systems. Recent efforts from research, industry and public authorities have been committed to develop a Norwegian bio-economy based on cultivated seaweed, focusing on cultivation and processing of the biomass. This review reports on the status of seaweed aquaculture in Norway, supported by production data collected since the delivery of the first commercial cultivation permits at sea in 2014. Although novel product developments are currently limited, future industrial perspectives based on cultivated biomass are being discussed. Upscaling from experimental cultivation schemes to commercial production requires a thorough assessment of the risks and benefits associated with seaweed aquaculture, as well as the development of a regulative framework adapted to this industry. Issues associated with upscaling the macroalgal production that needs to be addressed includes (i) genetic interactions between cultivated and wild crops, (ii) impacts of seaweed cultivation on surrounding ecosystems, (iii) epiphytes and diseases, (iv) area utilization and (v) threats from climate change. Addressing these issues and adapting production practices will ensure the environmental and economic sustainability of an emerging industry based on cultivated seaweed biomass in Norway.

J. Kinge, J. Modalsli, S. Øverland et al.

Importance Examining causes of death and making comparisons across countries may increase understanding of the income-related differences in life expectancy. Objectives To describe income-related differences in life expectancy and causes of death in Norway and to compare those differences with US estimates. Design and Setting A registry-based study including all Norwegian residents aged at least 40 years from 2005 to 2015. Exposures Household income adjusted for household size. Main Outcomes and Measures Life expectancy at 40 years of age and cause-specific mortality. Results In total, 3 041 828 persons contributed 25 805 277 person-years and 441 768 deaths during the study period (mean [SD] age, 59.3 years [13.6]; mean [SD] number of household members per person, 2.5 [1.3]). Life expectancy was highest for women with income in the top 1% (86.4 years [95% CI, 85.7-87.1]) which was 8.4 years (95% CI, 7.2-9.6) longer than women with income in the lowest 1%. Men with the lowest 1% income had the lowest life expectancy (70.6 years [95% CI, 69.6-71.6]), which was 13.8 years (95% CI, 12.3-15.2) less than men with the top 1% income. From 2005 to 2015, the differences in life expectancy by income increased, largely attributable to deaths from cardiovascular disease, cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and dementia in older age groups and substance use deaths and suicides in younger age groups. Over the same period, life expectancy for women in the highest income quartile increased 3.2 years (95% CI, 2.7-3.7), while life expectancy for women in the lowest income quartile decreased 0.4 years (95% CI, -1.0 to 0.2). For men, life expectancy increased 3.1 years (95% CI, 2.5-3.7) in the highest income quartile and 0.9 years (95% CI, 0.2-1.6) in the lowest income quartile. Differences in life expectancy by income levels in Norway were similar to differences observed in the United States, except that life expectancy was higher in Norway in the lower to middle part of the income distribution in both men and women. Conclusions and Relevance In Norway, there were substantial and increasing gaps in life expectancy by income level from 2005 to 2015. The largest differences in life expectancy between Norway and United States were for individuals in the lower to middle part of the income distribution.

Erik Figenbaum

Abstract Norway has achieved an unprecedented breakthrough for battery electric vehicles. The market share reached 17.1% in 2015, and the total fleet passed 2.7%, some 70000 vehicles. The multilevel perspective framework demonstrate how Norwegian incentives and policies gradually developed over a 25 year period through interactions between the international landscape, national governance networks, regimes and niches. Actors have been able to utilize windows of opportunities leading to the potential establishment of a BEV regime assimilated into the ICE regime from 2016. BEV incentives, some of which have been in place since 1990, did not yield results until the traditional vehicle manufacturers manufactured BEVs based on Li-Ion batteries from 2010. Norwegian purchase incentives are large enough to make electric vehicles a competitively priced alternative for vehicle buyers. Increased selection of models, improved technology, reduced vehicle prices, and extensive marketing have spurred further sales.

M. Grotle, M. Småstuen, O. Fjeld et al.

Background Studies from different Western countries have reported a rapid increase in spinal surgery rates, an increase that exceeds by far the growing incidence rates of spinal disorders in the general population. There are few studies covering all lumbar spine surgery and no previous studies from Norway. Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate trends in all lumbar spine surgery in Norway over 15 years, including length of hospital stay, and rates of complications and reoperations. Design A longitudinal observational study over 15 years using hospital patient administrative data and sociodemographic data from the National Registry in Norway. Setting and participants Patients aged ≥18 years discharged from Norwegian public hospitals between 1999 and 2013. Outcome measures Annual rates of simple (microsurgical discectomy, decompression) and complex surgical procedures (fusion, disc prosthesis) in the lumbar spine. Results The rate of lumbar spine surgery increased by 54%, from 78 (95% CI (75 to 80)) to 120 (107 to 113) per 100 000, from 1999 to 2013. More men had simple surgery whereas more women had complex surgery. Among elderly people over 75 years, lumbar surgery increased by a factor of five during the 15-year period. The rates of complications were low, but increased from 0.7% in 1999 to 2.4% in 2013. Conclusions There was a substantial increase in lumbar spine surgery in Norway from 1999 to 2013, similar to trends in other Western world countries. The rise in lumbar surgery among elderly people represents a significant workload and challenge for health services, given our aging population.