Classification and computational search for planar functions in characteristic 3

Masteroppgave i informatikkINF399MAMN-PROGMAMN-IN

Politiet i ungdomsskolen : tillitskapende og forebyggende, eller kun tilstedeværelse? : en teoretisk oppgave

Bachelor i politiutdannin

Tatt av skred : finnes det merkbare holdnings- og/eller adferdsendringer hos frikjørere tatt av snøskred

Friluftsliv 3. år ID3-302 Desember 200

A survey of occupational health in The Royal Norwegian Navy

Objective. The aim of this article is to describe possible risk factors in the work environment that can affect the health of staff of the Royal Norwegian Navy (RNoN). The article presents the main results from a subproject related to a major surveillance of the health and work environment in this population. The project was performed as a response to general concerns regarding harmful work environment and negative health effects for these employees. Participants and methods. In 2002, a questionnaire was sent out to all the employees in RNoN, and they answered during a period of three months. The overall response rate was 58% (n=2265), 2001 men and 250 women (14 unknown sex). 1581 military employees and 580 civilians participated (104 unknown). Mean age was 38 (range 18-70). Questions about years at work, exposure to chemical, physical and ergonomic hazards were developed for this particular study. Questions about allergy, asthma, hand eczema, hearing loss, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and cancer were asked. Musculoskeletal disorders were obtained by a standardized instrument. Results. Exposure to noise, heavy lifting, twisted work positions and work close to antennas and communication equipment occurred often in this population. The most commonly reported diseases that might be work related were hand eczema, hearing loss and low back pain. Conclusions. The results indicate the presence of several possible risk factors to health related to the work environment in this population. The project gives a basis for further action regarding the Health Safety and Environment work within RNoN.publishedVersio

Young adults with depression: A registry-based longitudinal study of work-life marginalisation. The Norwegian GP-DEP study

Aims: To explore the association between a depression diagnosis in young adulthood and risk of marginalisation at age 29 years, among those who had completed upper secondary school and those who had not completed at age 21. Methods: In a longitudinal cohort study based on nationwide registers we followed 111,558 people from age 22–29 years. Outcomes were risk of marginalisation and educational achievement at age 29. Exposure was a diagnosed depression at ages 22–26 years. Comorbid mental and somatic health conditions, gender and country of origin were covariates. Relative risks were estimated with Poisson regression models, stratified by educational level at age 21. Results: For people who had not completed upper secondary school at age 21 years, a depression diagnosis at age 22–26 increased the risk of low income (relative risk = 1.33; 95% confidence interval = 1.25–1.40), prolonged unemployment benefit (1.46; 1.38–1.55) and social security benefit (1.56; 1.41–1.74) at age 29 compared with those with no depression. Among those who had completed upper secondary school at age 21 years, depression increased the risk of low income (1.71; 1.60–1.83), prolonged unemployment benefit (2.17; 2.03–2.31), social security benefit (3.62; 2.91–4.51) and disability pension (4.43; 3.26–6.01) compared with those with no depression. Mental comorbidity had a significant impact on risk of marginalisation in both groups. Conclusions: Depression in one’s mid-20s significantly increases the risk of marginalisation at age 29 years, and comorbid mental health conditions reinforce this association. Functional ability should be given priority in depression care in early adulthood to counteract marginalisation.publishedVersio

Psychosocial resources predict frequent pain differently for men and women: A prospective cohort study

Introduction Psychosocial resources, psychological and social factors like self-efficacy and social support have been suggested as important assets for individuals with chronic pain, but the importance of psychosocial resources for the development of pain is sparsely examined, especially sex and gender differences. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between psychosocial resources and sex on the development of frequent pain in a general population sample, and to deepen the knowledge about sex and gender patterns. Methods A sample from the Swedish Health Assets Project, a longitudinal cohort study, included self-reported data from 2263 participants, 53% women, with no frequent pain at baseline. The outcome variable was frequent pain at 18–months follow-up. Psychosocial resources studied were general self-efficacy, instrumental and emotional social support. Log binomial regressions in a generalised linear model were used to calculate risk ratios (RRs), comparing all combinations of men with high psychosocial resources, men with low psychosocial resources, women with high psychosocial resources and women with low psychosocial resources. Results Women with low psychosocial resources had higher risk of frequent pain at follow-up compared to men with high resources: general self-efficacy RR 1.82, instrumental social support RR 2.33 and emotional social support RR 1.94. Instrumental social support was the most important protective resource for women, emotional social support was the most important one for men. Results were discussed in terms of gender norms. Conclusions The psychosocial resources general self-efficacy, instrumental and emotional support predicted the risk of developing frequent pain differently among and between men and women in a general population sample. The results showed the importance of studying sex and gender differences in psychological and not least social predictors for pain.publishedVersio

Effect of exercise on the inter-rectus distance in pregnant women with diastasis recti abdominis: an experimental longitudinal study

Objective: To investigate the effect of acute contraction of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) and abdominal exercises on the inter-rectus distance (IRD) compared to resting values, and differences between gestation weeks 27 and 37, in pregnant women with diastasis recti abdominis (DRA). Design: Experimental longitudinal design. Setting: Physiotherapy clinic, primary health care. Participants: Thirty-eight pregnant women with DRA ≥ 2.8 cm. Interventions: Two-dimensional ultrasound images of IRD 2 cm above and below the umbilicus were taken at rest and during PFM and abdominal exercises at gestation week 27 and 37. Repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVAs) with post hoc tests was performed for each exercise for both locations and timepoints. Main Outcome measures: Change in IRD. Results: There was a mean increase of the IRD from rest during a PFM contraction (2 mm, 95% CI: 2, 3), drawing-in (4 mm, 95% CI: 3, 5) and a combination of these (5 mm, 95% CI: 4, 6) There was a mean decrease of the IRD from rest during the headlift (-3 mm, 95% CI: -4, -2), the curl-up (-3 mm, 95% CI: -4, -2) and the diagonal curl up (-4 mm, 95% CI: -5, -3). Effect of time from gestation week 27 to 37 was a mean increase of 8 mm (95% CI: 6, 9). Conclusion: Pelvic floor and drawing-in exercise increased the IRD, whilst headlift, curl up and diagonal curl up decreased the IRD in pregnant women with DRA at gestation week 27 and 37.publishedVersio

Women’s higher likelihood of disability pension: the role of health, family and work. A 5–7 years follow-up of the Hordaland Health Study

Background: Women’s higher risk of disability pension compared with men is found in countries with high female work participation and universal welfare schemes. The aim of the study was to examine the extent to which self-perceived health, family situation and work factors explain women’s higher risk of disability pension. We also explored how these factors influenced the gender difference across educational strata. Methods: The population-based Hordaland Health Study (HUSK) was conducted in 1997–99 and included inhabitants born in 1953–57 in Hordaland County, Norway. The current study included 5,959 men and 6,306 women in paid work with valid information on education and self-perceived health. Follow-up data on disability pension, for a period of 5–7 years, was obtained by linking the health survey to a national registry of disability pension. Cox regression analyses were employed. Results: During the follow-up period 99 (1.7%) men and 230 (3.6%) women were awarded disability pension, giving a twofold risk of disability pension for women compared with men. Except for a moderate impact of self-perceived health, adjustment for family situation and work factors did not influence the gender difference in risk. Repeating the analyses in strata of education, the gender difference in risk of disability pension among the highly educated was fully explained by self-perceived health and work factors. In the lower strata of education there remained a substantial unexplained gender difference in risk. Conclusions: In a Norwegian cohort of middle-aged men and women, self-perceived health, family situation and work factors could not explain women’s higher likelihood of disability pension. However, analyses stratified by educational level indicate that mechanisms behind the gender gap in disability pension differ by educational levels. Recognizing the heterogeneity within gender may contribute to a deeper understanding of women’s higher risk of disability pension.publishedVersio

The current status of singing in kindergartens in Norway – An exploratory study

This study investigates the current situation regarding singing in Norwegian kindergartens. More specifically, how often kindergartens offer singing possibilities to children, in what situations singing is embedded, how valued singing is in such institutions, what singing methods and repertoires the teachers use, and whether teachers have certain underlying goals and beliefs connected to their use of singing. Furthermore, we are interested in whether there are contextual factors that influence the singing practice of a kindergarten/teacher. This exploratory cross-sectional study uses a webbased questionnaire, and the sample consists of 660 Norwegian kindergarten teachers. The statistical analyses cover standard descriptive and inferential statistics. The study’s main findings are as follows: (1) singing is highly valued in most kindergartens; (2) singing is done “very often” in most kindergartens, and the majority of teachers report that they sing with the children daily in a large variety of situations and using mainly Norwegian songs – however, the actual frequency and amount of singing depends on various factors; (3) one of the most important factors regarding singing praxis is musical expertise of teachers, regarding which most teachers rate themselves as below the population average; (4) the teachers mainly sing unaccompanied with the children; (5) they learn new songs mainly through streaming services; and (6) the teachers assume that singing leads to especially positive psychological, social, and cognitive effects on children.publishedVersio

Utilization of Norwegian crisis shelters before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The measures introduced to control the COVID-19 pandemic, including lockdowns and physical distancing, exerted considerable influence on society. Objectives: The aims of this study were to examine (1) the prevalence of people seeking Norwegian crisis shelters for domestic violence during the first period of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) compared to the year before, (2) the demography and type of violence among first-time visitors and (3) to compare the utilization of the crisis shelters and characteristics of the users between shelters in the capital and the other shelters throughout Norway. Design: Observational study. Method: The study was based on data from each crisis shelter in 2019 and 2020. Comparison between the 2 years were based on corresponding periods (12 March until 31 December) and analysed with t-test and chi-square tests. Results: Total use of crises centres, residential stays and daytime visits were lower during the pandemic (n = 7102) compared to the pre-pandemic period (n = 11 814). There was a shift from daytime visits to phone contacts when the restrictions were established. There was a higher proportion of residential stays versus daytime visits during the pandemic (21.5%) compared to the pre-pandemic period (15.4%) (p ⩽ 0.001). The proportion of first-time users was higher during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic period both for residents (52.4% vs 47.1%) and daytime visitors (10.9% vs 9.0%). Among first-time crisis shelter residents during the pandemic period, fewer reported having children at home compared to the pre-pandemic period. The background of the crisis-shelter users did not differ between the capital and rest of Norway, but the capital had relatively more residents with psychological violence and threats during the pandemic. Conclusion: The utilization of Norwegian crisis shelters, especially daytime visits was lower during the pandemic. There was a shift in daytime contacts from visits to phone contact at the pandemic outbreak. To ensure that information about available crisis shelters reaches the total population, these shelters should be prepared for a higher volume of phone contacts in a future pandemic situation.publishedVersio