Lifestyle changes from online information are associated with discussing the information with a doctor A cross-sectional study among members of the Norwegian Diabetes Association

Background: The prevalence of diabetes and the use of electronic health (eHealth) are increasing. There are strong indications that lifestyle changes in a positive direction may reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes. However, little is known about the association between the use of eHealth and lifestyle changes in people with diabetes. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate to what extent people with diabetes report lifestyle changes based on online information, and to examine associations between lifestyle changes and sociodemographic factors, health, and discussing the information with a doctor. Methods: We used email survey data obtained from 1250 members of the Norwegian Diabetes Association aged 18 to 89 years in 2018. Included in the analyses was the 847 persons who were diagnosed with diabetes themselves and had used eHealth within the previous year. We used descriptive statistics to estimate internet triggered lifestyle changes. Logistic regressions were used to estimate the associations between lifestyle changes and gender, age, education, self-rated health, and discussing the information with a doctor. Results: Lifestyle changes accomplished after online information was reported by 46.9% (397/847) of the participants. The odds for changing lifestyle was more than doubled for those who had discussed information from the internet with a doctor (OR 2.54, CI 1.90-3.40). The odds for lifestyle changes decreased with age over 60 years, and in the age group 30-39 years. Internet-triggered lifestyle changes were not associated with gender, education, or self-rated health. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that internet can play a significant role in lifestyle changes among people with diabetes. This study underlines the importance of easily available high-quality online information. Our findings also indicate that health-care professionals can play an important role in lifestyle changes additional to health-advice found on the internet

Interactions between the predatory mite Amblyseius Swirskii and it's factitious prey Suidasia Medanensis with implications for field release

Predatory mites are important components in biological control of arthropod pests in protected crops. The whitefly and thrips predator Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is an efficient biocontrol agent used widely for pest control in protected vegetable and ornamental crops. Amblyseius swirskii can be mass-reared on at least three species of astigmatid mites but little is known about their predator-prey interactions and population dynamics. These factitious prey allow for large-scale efficient rearing systems and novel crop inoculation methods. The use of breeding sachets offer a predatory mite delivery method with prolonged and sustained crop inoculation. This study endeavoured to assess the suitability of the factitious prey Suidasia medanensis (Acari: Suidasidae) for mass-rearing and field deployment of A. swirskii by studying the life table parameters of the predator on a diet of the said prey. The underlying predator-prey interactions were examined through a series of laboratory experiments focusing on the response of A. swirskii to prey density, preference of prey life stage, capture success ratio and the defence volatiles of adult S. medanensis against predators. Furthermore, in order to understand the behaviour and performance of a breeding sachet the internal population dynamics were studied in relation to release rates from the sachet. These studies were extended to examine the effect of different simulated crop conditions on predator release, focusing on temperature and relative humidity at constant and alternating controlled conditions. In addition to different crop conditions, A. swirskii may be exposed to various other crop protection products in the field as part of an IPM programme. The compatibility of A. swirskii with one such product, the fungal entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo), for concomitant use in the field was investigated through pathogenicity studies and sublethal effects under controlled conditions. Suidasia medanensis was found to be of good nutritional value to A. swirskii resulting in population growth rates similar to target pests, as reported in literature. Specific predator-prey interactions were identified, such as Type II functional response, preference to egg stages of the prey and the defence volatile of S. medanensis, the significance of which are discussed in depth in the thesis. Underlying dispersal strategies and the association between breeding sachet productivity and predator output was established. Furthermore, climatic conditions were found to have significant effects on sachet performance with clear indications of what constitutes favourable and unfavourable conditions. Amblyseius swirskii was found to be a physiological host to B. bassiana. Due to low-to-moderate mortality rates under ideal laboratory conditions, little effect on juvenile mites and no effect on offspring of treated mites these two biocontrol agents were concluded to have good potential for concomitant use, but with further trials required.Open Acces

Capturing students' needs through collaboration - exploring challenges experienced by Norwegian educational-psychological advisers

A system-based approach to expert assessment work presupposes collaboration between the Educational Psychological Service (EPS) and key stakeholders to capture students’ needs. Nevertheless, few studies have explored what challenges to collaboration exist and how they can be resolved. The purpose of this study was therefore to fill this knowledge gap by exploring EPS advisers’ experiences of challenges in collaborating with key stakeholders, including students, parents, teachers and principals. The results of eight interviews revealed challenges for EPS advisers in capturing the student’s voice, gaining legitimacy from teachers, involving principals, and being parents’ spokesperson, as well as challenges related to the perceived ambiguity of the EPS’s mandate. The findings suggest a lack of collaborative competence to lead a joint process of knowledge development; such competence could prevent conflicting expectations of EPS`s mandate, confusion about roles and contribute to trustful relationships between EPS and key stakeholders. A two-part strategy for a collaborative approach to expert assessment work is suggested.publishedVersio

Can school nurses improve the school environment in Norwegian primary schools? A protocol for a randomized controlled trial

This protocol describes a randomized controlled trial where additional school nurse resources are assigned to work systemically with schools to improve the school environment and reduce bullying among and absence of 5th–7th grade students. Approximately 9000 students will have participated each year from 2018 to 2020 from 107 schools located in 12 Norwegian municipalities. Academic performance is studied as a secondary outcome.acceptedVersio

Characterization of surface radar cross sections at W-band at moderate incidence angles

This paper presents the results of a recent flight campaign conducted over the Great Lakes region and reports the first observations of the W-band normalized backscattered cross section ( σ0 ) for V and H polarization and the linear depolarization ratios (LDRs) from different types of surfaces at moderate incidence angles (<70°). For sea surfaces, while the observed σ0 behaves as previously reported at small incidence angles, it features a marked decrease with increasing incidence angles between 20° and 50°. There is a strong dependence of normalized backscattered cross sections both on the wind speed and on the wind direction, with larger values found in the presence of higher wind speeds and when the radar antenna is looking upwind. This is in line with theoretical models (though models tend to overpredict the range of variability at a given incidence angle) and with observations at lower frequencies. The LDRs are steadily increasing from values certainly lower than −30 dB, at vertical incidence, to the values of about −10 dB, at the incidence angles of about 60°–70°, with a good matching between observations and theoretical predictions. On the other hand, land surface backscattering properties are not characterized by a strong angular dependence: σ0 and LDR values typically range between −20 and 0 dB and between −15 and −5 dB, respectively. This paper is relevant for spaceborne concepts of W-band radars, which envisage moderate incidence angles to achieve a broad swath needed for global coverage

Exploiting volatile organic compounds in crop protection: a systematic review of 1‐octen‐3‐ol and 3‐octanone

The 21st century has brought new challenges to the agri-food industry due to population growth, global warming, and greater public awareness of environmental issues. Ensuring global food security for future generations is crucial. However, pests, weeds, and diseases still significantly contribute to crop losses, and the availability of effective conventional synthetic pesticides is decreasing. To address this, new and diverse pest management tools are needed. One pest management tool showing potential for invertebrate pest management is the exploitation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—in particular, the compounds 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanone. This review aims to explore the extent to which 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanone show potential in the future management of invertebrate crop and animal pests. A significant increase in the rate of publication of literature on the use of 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanone in crop protection since 2018 is identified by this review, therefore, showing the potential importance of these compounds for use in future pest management. This review also identifies key interactions between naturally occurring biosynthesised 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanone, and a range of invertebrate targets. Many of these interactions with key crop pests are sourced from the taxonomic families Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, and Trichomaceae. However, analysis of the practical application of these sources in an integrated pest management programme identifies clear limitations with the use of naturally occurring biosynthesised 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanone. Rather, future focus should be placed on the development and exploitation of synthesised nature identical 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanone for use as a biopesticide product. Overall, 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanone show potential for exploitation in future crop protection, being abundant in source and diversity of invertebrate interactions. However, their use as a naturally occurring biosynthesised chemical is likely not practical for direct implementation in crop protection. Rather, focus should be placed on the development and exploitation of synthesised nature identical variants of these compounds for use as a biopesticide

Conditions for the implementation of anti-bullying programmes in Norway and Ireland: A comparison of contexts and strategies

Drawing on experiences from anti-bullying programmes in Norway and Ireland, our primary objective in this paper is to present and discuss similarities and differences in national contexts, delivery strategies and strategies at school level for implementation of the ABC (Ireland) and Zero (Norway) anti-bullying programmes. Both programmes are whole-school anti-bullying programmes that share a common structure and marked similarities in methodology, emanating from a Norwegian nationwide anti-bullying programme developed at the Centre for Behavioural Research. Comparisons show considerable differences in the national contexts, with the Norwegian authorities taking more initiative towards anti-bullying work. There were both similarities and differences concerning delivery strategies. A conclusion to be drawn is that in order to stimulate implementation of anti-bullying programmes in schools, the national authorities can have a promoting role through their focus, legislation and resource allocation. However, conditions for implementation also include the delivery process and strategies for implementation at the school level

WIVERN: A new satellite concept to provide global in-cloud winds, precipitation and cloud properties.

A new satellite concept with a conically scanning W-band Doppler radar to provide in-cloud winds, together with estimates of global rainfall, snowfall and cloud properties. This paper presents a conically scanning space-borne Dopplerized 94GHz radar Earth Science mission concept, WIVERN, ‘Wind VElocity Radar Nephoscope’. WIVERN aims to provide global measurements of in-cloud winds using the Doppler shifted radar returns from hydrometeors. The conically scanning radar could provide wind data with daily revisits poleward of 50°, 50-km horizontal resolution and approximately 1km vertical resolution. The measured winds, when assimilated into weather forecasts and provided they are representative of the larger scale mean flow, should lead to further improvements in the accuracy and effectiveness of forecasts of severe weather and better focusing of activities to limit damage and loss of life. It should also be possible to characterize the more variable winds associated with local convection. Polarization diversity would be used to enable high wind speeds to be unambiguously observed; analysis indicates that artifacts associated with polarization diversity are rare and can be identified. Winds should be measurable down to 1 km above the ocean surface and 2 km over land. The potential impact of the WIVERN winds on reducing forecast errors is estimated by comparison with the known positive impact of cloud motion and aircraft winds. The main thrust of WIVERN is observing in-cloud winds, but WIVERN should also provide global estimates of ice water content, cloud cover and vertical distribution continuing the data series started by CloudSat with the conical scan giving increased coverage. As with CloudSat, estimates of rainfall and snowfall rates should be possible. These non-wind products may also have a positive impact when assimilated into weather forecasts