Innledning

"This anthology explores the development of the higher education sector with respect to regional and national contexts. In Norway, the challenge of unifying a country with deeply-rooted and distinct local identities has been a cornerstone in nation-building. The political agenda pursued in developing and expanding higher education and research in Norway bears the unmistakable mark of such nation-building work. Education and research policy has been through various phases and subjected to shifting paradigms. Beginning the 1960s, higher educational institutions were established throughout the country to specifically meet regional demands for a well-educated workforce. A result of this process was that by the beginning of the 1990s, Norway had one of the world’s most decentralized higher education systems, gauged in relation to population. There followed a period with a series of reforms for concentration and unification in order to increase quality and strengthen research and national competitive advantage in an age when information had become our most important resource. There have been fluctuating views on administration of the system as a whole and within the system, influenced by international trends. This does not mean that regional ambitions slackened, but they assumed other forms. The need for highly educated labor was just as great, and in addition came an increased need for greater information and collaboration between regional business interests and public institutions. In this anthology, we attempt to sketch the historical development that has characterized our higher education sector. How should we understand and explain the direction this development has taken? Which interests, drivers and actors can we identify? What consequences can we trace? To a certain extent we are also trying to look ahead on the basis of where we are now. The contributions in this anthology are from key researchers in the field, and their theoretical and empirical approaches to the topic vary. This diversity provides a nuanced image of the exciting developments within our current higher education sector, and the conditions for its future development.

Exploration of degradation chemistry by Advanced analytical methodology

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Correlates of irregular family meal patterns among 11-year-old children from the Pro Children study

Background: The importance of family meals to the consumption of healthful food choices has been stated in recent reviews. However, little information is available on barriers that interfere with regular family meal patterns during childhood. Objective: Describe family meal patterns among 11-year-old children across Europe and identify correlates of irregular family breakfast and dinner consumption. Design: Cross-sectional survey involving samples of 13,305 children from nine European countries in 2003. Results: The proportions of children who regularly ate family breakfast and dinner were 62% and 90%, respectively. Correlates of irregular family breakfasts and dinners were less vegetable consumption, and irregular family breakfasts were associated with more television viewing. Social differences in the consumption of family breakfasts were observed. Discussion: Strengths of this study are the large sample size and validated research method. Limitations are the cross-sectional design and self-reported data. Conclusion: The majority of 11-year-old children regularly ate breakfast and dinner with their families. More television viewing and less vegetable consumption were associated with irregular family breakfasts and dinners, respectively. Social differences were observed in the regularity of family breakfasts. Promoting family meals across social class may lead to healthier eating and activity habits, sustainable at the population level

Efficacy and safety of individualized coaching after stroke: the LAST Study (Life After Stroke): a pragmatic randomized controlled trial

Background and Purpose: The evidence for interventions to prevent functional decline in the long term after stroke is lacking. The aim of this trial was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an 18-month follow-up program of individualized regular coaching on physical activity and exercise. Methods: This was a multicentre, pragmatic, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial. Adults (age ≥18 years) with first-ever or recurrent stroke, community dwelling, with modified Rankin Scale <5, and no serious comorbidities were included 10 to 16 weeks poststroke. The intervention group received individualized regular coaching on physical activity and exercise every month for 18 consecutive months. The control group received standard care. Primary outcome was the Motor Assessment Scale at end of intervention (18-month follow-up). Secondary measures were Barthel index, modified Rankin Scale, item 14 from Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go test, gait speed, 6-minute walk test, and Stroke Impact Scale. Other outcomes were adverse events and compliance to the intervention assessed by training diaries and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results: Three hundred and eighty consenting participants were randomly assigned to individualized coaching (n=186) or standard care (n=194). The mean estimated difference on Motor Assessment Scale in favor of control group was −0.70 points (95% confidence interval, −2.80, 1.39), P=0.512. There were no differences between the groups on Barthel index, modified Rankin Scale, or Berg Balance Scale. The frequency of adverse events was low in both groups. Results from International Physical Activity Questionnaire and training diaries showed increased activity levels but low intensity of the exercise in the intervention group. Conclusions: The regular individualized coaching did not improve maintenance of motor function or the secondary outcomes compared with standard care. The intervention should be regarded as safe. Despite the neutral results, the health costs related to the intervention should be investigated