Surge dynamics in the Nathorstbreen glacier system, Svalbard

Nathorstbreen glacier system (NGS) recently experienced the largest surge in Svalbard since 1936, and this was examined using spatial and temporal observations from DEM differencing, time series of surface velocities from satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and other sources. The upper basins with maximum accumulation during quiescence corresponded to regions of initial lowering. Initial speed-up exceeded quiescent velocities by a factor of several tens. This suggests that polythermal glacier surges are initiated in the temperate area before mass is displaced downglacier. Subsequent downglacier mass displacement coincided with areas where glacier velocity increased by a factor of 100–200 times (stage 2). After more than 5 years, the joint NGS terminus advanced abruptly into the fjord during winter, increasing velocities even more. The advance was followed by up-glacier propagation of crevasses, indicating the middle and subsequently the upper part of the glaciers reacting to the mass displacement. NGS advanced ~15 km, while another ~3 km length was lost due to calving. Surface lowering of ~50 m was observed in some up-glacier areas, and in 5 years the total glacier area increased by 20%. Maximum measured flow rates were at least 25 m d⁻¹, 2500 times quiescent velocity, while average velocities were about 10 m d⁻¹. The surges of Zawadzkibreen cycle with ca. 70-year periods

Mental Health, Academic Self-Efficacy and Study Progress Among College Students – The SHoT Study, Norway

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

Prevalence of multimorbidity with frailty and associations with socioeconomic position in an adult population : findings from the cross-sectional HUNT Study in Norway

ObjectivesTo explore prevalences and occupational group inequalities of two measures of multimorbidity with frailty.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingThe Nord-TrOndelag Health Study (HUNT), Norway, a total county population health survey, 2006-2008.ParticipantsParticipants older than 25 years, with complete questionnaires, measurements and occupation data were included.Outcomes >= 2 of 51 multimorbid conditions with >= 1 of 4 frailty measures (poor health, mental illness, physical impairment or social impairment) and >= 3 of 51 multimorbid conditions with >= 2 of 4 frailty measures.AnalysisLogistic regression models with age and occupational group were specified for each sex separately.ResultsOf 41 193 adults, 38 027 (55% female; 25-100 years old) were included. Of them, 39% had >= 2 multimorbid conditions with >= 1 frailty measure, and 17% had >= 3 multimorbid conditions with >= 2 frailty measures. Prevalence differences in percentage points (pp) with 95% confidence intervals of those in high versus low occupational group with >= 2 multimorbid conditions and >= 1 frailty measure were largest in women age 30 years, 17 (14 to 20) pp and 55 years, 15 (13 to 17) pp and in men age 55 years, 15 (13 to 17) pp and 80 years, 14 (9 to 18) pp. In those with >= 3 multimorbid conditions and >= 2 frailty measures, prevalence differences were largest in women age 30 years, 8 (6 to 10) pp and 55 years, 10 (8 to 11) ppand in men age 55 years, 9 (8 to 11) pp and 80 years, 6 (95% CI 1 to 10) pp.ConclusionMultimorbidity with frailty is common, and social inequalities persist until age 80 years in women and throughout the lifespan in men. To manage complex multimorbidity, strategies for proportionate universalism in medical education, healthcare, public health prevention and promotion seem necessary

Trends in absolute and relative educational inequalities in health during times of labour market restructuring in coastal areas : The HUNT Study, Norway

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Global variation in postoperative mortality and complications after cancer surgery : a multicentre, prospective cohort study in 82 countries

Background 80% of individuals with cancer will require a surgical procedure, yet little comparative data exist on early outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared postoperative outcomes in breast, colorectal, and gastric cancer surgery in hospitals worldwide, focusing on the effect of disease stage and complications on postoperative mortality. Methods This was a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of consecutive adult patients undergoing surgery for primary breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer requiring a skin incision done under general or neuraxial anaesthesia. The primary outcome was death or major complication within 30 days of surgery. Multilevel logistic regression determined relationships within three-level nested models of patients within hospitals and countries. Hospital-level infrastructure effects were explored with three-way mediation analyses. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03471494. Findings Between April 1, 2018, and jan 31, 2019, we enrolled 15 958 patients from 428 hospitals in 82 countries (high income 9106 patients, 31 countries; upper-middle income 2721 patients, 23 countries; or lower-middle income 4131 patients, 28 countries). Patients in LMICs presented with more advanced disease compared with patients in high-income countries. 30-day mortality was higher for gastric cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (adjusted odds ratio 3.72, 95% CI 1.70-8.16) and for colorectal cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (4.59, 2.39-8.80) and upper-middle-income countries (2.06,1.11-3.83). No difference in 30-day mortality was seen in breast cancer. The proportion of patients who died after a major complication was greatest in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (6.15, 3.26-11.59) and upper-middle-income countries (3.89, 2- 08-7- 29). Postoperative death after complications was partly explained by patient factors (60%) and partly by hospital or country (40%). The absence of consistently available postoperative care facilities was associated with seven to 10 more deaths per 100 major complications in LMICs. Cancer stage alone explained little of the early variation in mortality or postoperative complications. Interpretation Higher levels of mortality after cancer surgery in LMICs was not fully explained by later presentation of disease. The capacity to rescue patients from surgical complications is a tangible opportunity for meaningful intervention. Early death after cancer surgery might be reduced by policies focusing on strengthening perioperative care systems to detect and intervene in common complications. Copyright (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe

Using multiple imputation and intervention-based scenarios to project the mobility of older adults

Background: Projections of the development of mobility limitations of older adults are needed for evidence-based policy making. The aim of this study was to generate projections of mobility limitations among older people in the United States, England, and Finland. Methods: We applied multiple imputation modelling with bootstrapping to generate projections of stair climbing and walking limitations until 2026. A physical activity intervention producing a beneficial effect on self-reported activities of daily living measures was identified in a comprehensive literature search and incorporated in the scenarios used in the projections. We utilised the harmonised longitudinal survey data from the Ageing Trajectories of Health – Longitudinal Opportunities and Synergies (ATHLOS) project (N = 24,982). Results: Based on the scenarios from 2012 to 2026, the prevalence of walking limitations will decrease from 9.4 to 6.4%. A physical activity intervention would decrease the prevalence of stair climbing limitations compared with no intervention from 28.9 to 18.9% between 2012 and 2026. Conclusions: A physical activity intervention implemented on older population seems to have a positive effect on maintaining mobility in the future. Our method provides an interesting option for generating projections by incorporating intervention-based scenarios

Risk of antidepressant initiation among users of cardiovascular agents and metformin. Findings from the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) and Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD), Norway

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Using historical fisheries data to predict tuna distribution within the British Indian Ocean Territory marine protected area, and implications for its management

1. Recently, several large marine protected areas (MPAs) have been established globally and it is hoped that they will aid the recovery of populations of highly-mobile, large pelagic species. Understanding the distribution of these species within MPAs is key to delivering effective management but monitoring can be challenging over such vast areas of open ocean. 2. Historical fisheries data, collected prior to reserve establishment, can provide an insight into the past distributions of target species. We investigated the 10spatial and temporal distribution of yellowfin (Thunnus albacares) and skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) tuna catch using logbook data from the purse seine fishery in British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) from 1996 to 2010, before it was established as an MPA in April 2010. 3. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were used to predict tuna presence and relative abundance from fishing records in relation to temporal and environmental variables. Significant variables included sea salinity, temperature and water velocity. 4. Predictions from the models identified a distinct hotspot for large yellowfin tuna within the MPA, and areas of high predicted relative abundance of skipjack tuna. We recommend that these areas are used as focal points from which populations can be monitored and investigations into tuna residency time can occur, so that the effectiveness of the MPA in conserving highly-mobile pelagic fish can be determined

Tenure structure and perceived social disorder in post-WWII suburban housing estates: a multi-level study with a representative sample of estates

Studies on post-World War II housing estates have largely focused on problematic neighbourhoods, and there is a scarcity of literature on housing estates across their entire social scale. Moreover, there is insufficient evidence on the extent to which tenure structure differentiates estates from each other in terms of social disorder. Using a large cluster sample of Finnish estates representing a wide variety of estate neighbourhoods, we examined the implications of tenure structure in terms of social disadvantage and perceived social disorder. We also studied how social interaction and normative regulation mediate the impact of structural estate characteristics. We found that rental domination is associated with social disadvantage, which exposes residents to social disorder, in line with social disorganisation theory. Differences in normative regulation partly explain this association. In contrast, social interaction in the neighbourhood is not associated with the level of perceived social disorder. The theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed.</p