Hydrological investigations in Norway

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

Application of LANDSAT imagery for snow mapping in Norway

The author has identified the following significant results. During the summer seasons of 1975 and 1976, the snow cover was successfully monitored and measured in the four basins. By using elevation distributions for these basins combined with the measured snow cover percentages, the equivalent snow line altitude was calculated. Equivalent snow line altitude was used in accordance with Mark Meier's definition. Cumulative runoff data were collected for the basins. Tables showing percentage snow cover versus cumulative runoff were worked out for 1975

Snowmapping in southern Norway by use of LANDSAT imagery

The author has identified the following significant results. During the summer seasons of 1975 and 1976, the snow cover was successfully monitored and measured in four basins. By use of elevation distributions for these basins combined with the measured snow cover percentage, the equivalent snow line altitude was calculated. The basins were Boevra, Jostedal, Olden, and Breim

Brief international cognitive assessment for MS (BICAMS) and global brain volumes in early stages of MS – A longitudinal correlation study

Background Cognitive impairment is common in patients with multiple sclerosis, even in the early stages of the disease. The Brief International Cognitive Assessment for multiple sclerosis (BICAMS) is a short screening tool developed to assess cognitive function in everyday clinical practice. Objective To investigate associations between volumetric brain measures derived from a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination and performance on BICAMS subtests in early stages of multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods BICAMS was used to assess cognitive function in 49 MS patients at baseline and after one and two years. The patients were separated into two groups (with or without cognitive impairment) based on their performances on BICAMSs subtests. MRI data were analysed by a software tool (MSMetrix), yielding normalized measures of global brain volumes and lesion volumes. Associations between cognitive tests and brain MRI measures were analysed by running correlation analyses, and differences between subgroups and changes over time with independent and paired samples tests, respectively. Results The strongest baseline correlations were found between the BICAMS subtests and normalized whole brain volume (NBV) and grey matter volume (NGV); processing speed r = 0.54/r = 0.48, verbal memory r = 0.49/ r = 0.42, visual memory r = 0.48 /r = 0.39. Only the verbal memory test had significant correlations with T2 and T1 lesion volumes (LV) at both time points; T2LV r = 0.39, T1LV r = 0.38. There were significant loss of grey matter and white matter volume overall (NGV p<0.001, NWV p = 0.003), as well as an increase in T1LV (p = 0.013). The longitudinally defined confirmed cognitively impaired (CCI) and preserved (CCP) patients showed significant group differences on all MRI volume measures at both time points, except for NWV. Only the CCI subgroup showed significant white matter atrophy (p = 0.006) and increase in T2LV (p = 0.029). Conclusions The present study found strong correlations between whole brain and grey matter volumes and performance on the BICAMS subtests as well as significant changes in global volumes from baseline to follow-up with clear differences between patients defined as cognitively impaired and preserved at both baseline and follow-up.publishedVersio

Tetradecylthioacetic Acid Increases Hepatic Mitochondrial β-Oxidation and Alters Fatty Acid Composition in a Mouse Model of Chronic Inflammation

The administration of tetradecylthioacetic acid (TTA), a hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory modified bioactive fatty acid, has in several experiments based on high fat diets been shown to improve lipid transport and utilization. It was suggested that increased mitochondrial and peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation in the liver of Wistar rats results in reduced plasma triacylglycerol (TAG) levels. Here we assessed the potential of TTA to prevent tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α-induced lipid modifications in human TNFα (hTNFα) transgenic mice. These mice are characterized by reduced β-oxidation and changed fatty acid composition in the liver. The effect of dietary treatment with TTA on persistent, low-grade hTNFα overexpression in mice showed a beneficial effect through decreasing TAG plasma concentrations and positively affecting saturated and monounsaturated fatty acid proportions in the liver, leading to an increased anti-inflammatory fatty acid index in this group. We also observed an increase of mitochondrial β-oxidation in the livers of TTA treated mice. Concomitantly, there were enhanced plasma levels of carnitine, acetyl carnitine, propionyl carnitine, and octanoyl carnitine, no changed levels in trimethyllysine and palmitoyl carnitine, and a decreased level of the precursor for carnitine, called γ-butyrobetaine. Nevertheless, TTA administration led to increased hepatic TAG levels that warrant further investigations to ascertain that TTA may be a promising candidate for use in the amelioration of inflammatory disorders characterized by changed lipid metabolism due to raised TNFα levels

Evolution of the banks of thermokarst lakes in Central Yakutia (Central Siberia) due to retrogressive thaw slump activity controlled by insolation

International audienceAs observed in most regions in the Arctic, the thawing of ice-rich permafrost (thermokarst) has been developing in Central Yakutia. However, the relationship between thermokarst development and climate variations is not well understood in this region, in particular the development rate of thaw slumps. The objectives of this paper are to understand the current development of thermokarst by studying the evolution of the banks of thermokarst lakes. We studied retrogressive thaw slumps and highly degraded ice-wedge polygons (baydjarakhs), indicative of thermokarst, using high resolution satellite images taken in 2011–2013 and conducting field studies. The retrogressive thaw slump activity results in the formation of thermocirque with a minimum and maximum average headwall retreat of 0.5 and 3.16 m.yr− 1 respectively. The thermocirques and the baydjarakhs are statistically more concentrated on the south- to southwest-facing banks of thermokarst lakes. Moreover, the rate of headwall retreat of the thermocirques is the most important on the south-facing banks of the lakes. These observations indicate a control of the current permafrost thaw on the banks of thermokarst lakes by insolation. In the context of recent air temperature increase in Central Yakutia, the rate of thermocirque development may increase in the future

Microstructural changes precede depression in patients with relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract Background Multiple Sclerosis lesions in the brain and spinal cord can lead to different symptoms, including cognitive and mood changes. In this study we explore the temporal relationship between early microstructural changes in subcortical volumes and cognitive and emotional function in a longitudinal cohort study of patients with relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Methods In vivo imaging in forty-six patients with relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis was performed annually over 3 years magnetic resonance imaging. Microstructural changes were estimated in subcortical structures using the free water fraction, a diffusion-based MRI metric. In parallel, patients were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale amongst other tests. Predictive structural equation modeling was set up to further explore the relationship between imaging and the assessment scores. In a general linear model analysis, the cohort was split into patients with higher and lower depression scores. Results Nearly all subcortical diffusion microstructure estimates at the baseline visit correlate with the depression score at the 2 years follow-up. The predictive nature of baseline free water estimates and depression subscores after 2 years are confirmed in the predictive structural equation modeling analysis with the thalamus showing the greatest effect size. The general linear model analysis shows patterns of MRI free water differences in the thalamus and amygdala/hippocampus area between participants with high and low depression score. Conclusions Our data suggests a relationship between higher levels of free-water in the subcortical structures in an early stage of Multiple Sclerosis and depression symptoms at a later stage of the disease