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Abstract Background Throwing velocity is an important research topic in sports science, and it is an essential performance variable for athletes in overarm-throwing sports like baseball, team handball, water polo, softball, and cricket. The aim of the present review was to investigate the effect of specific strength training on throwing velocity for overarm throws. Methods The literature was analysed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses, searching in SPORTDiscus and MEDLINE. Seventeen studies were included in this review, and the training studies were divided into four categories: (a) overweight and underweight balls, (b) forearm loading, (c) pulley device training, and (d) strength training with a resistance band. Results All strength training studies with resistance band and the forearm loading categories increased the throwing velocity, varying from 3.7 to 26%. However, only half of these studies found that training was associated with a significantly higher increase versus the control group. Findings were inconsistent in other categories. Conclusion Based on the findings of the present review, no clear conclusion can be made on which of the specific strength training methods is best for increasing throwing velocity. However, some recommendations can be offered. Firstly, the throwing training period should be long enough (≥ 6 weeks) with a high enough workload. Throwing training with a resistance band increases throwing velocity significantly for junior and less experienced overarm-throwing athletes. Furthermore, throwing with underweighted balls of similar size will ensure a positive effect on throwing velocity. Also, throwing training with combined over- and underweighted balls can be used if the overweighted balls are carefully selected to ensure there is no negative impact on throwing kinematics and injuries. For the other categories, the results were conflicting. Furthermore, due to the low number of studies in the pulley device and forearm loading categories, more studies should be conducted to investigate their effects on throwing velocity.

Abstract Background Early diagnosis and antibiotic therapy in patients with sepsis reduce morbidity and mortality, thus pre-hospital management is likely to affect patient outcomes. Pre-hospital administration may increase the risk of unnecessary use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, but identification of an infectious focus enables more targeted antibiotic therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate how paramedics, with or without the assistance of general practitioners, can administer empiric intravenous antibiotic treatment against sepsis in a timely manner. Methods Cohort study of patients with suspected sepsis that received pre-hospital intravenous antibiotics and were transported to hospital. The setting was mainly rural with long average distance to hospital. Patients received targeted antibiotic treatment after an assessment based on clinical work-up supported by scoring systems. Patients were prospectively included from May 2018 to August 2022. Results are presented as median or absolute values, and chi-square tests were used to compare categorical data. Results We included 328 patients. Median age was 76 years (IQR 64, 83) and 48.5% of patients were female. 30-days all-cause mortality was 10.4%. In cases where a suspected infectious focus was determined, the hospital discharge papers confirmed the pre-hospital diagnosis focus in 195 cases (79.3%). The presence of a general practitioner during the pre-hospital assessment increased the rate of correctly identified infectious focus from 72.6% to 86.1% (p = 0.009). Concordance between pre-hospital identification of a tentative focus and discharge diagnosis was highest for lower respiratory tract (p = 0.02) and urinary tract infections (p = 0.03). Antibiotic treatment was initiated 44 min (median) after arrival of ambulance, and median transportation time to hospital was 69 min. Antibiotic therapy was started 76 min (median) before arrival at hospital. Conclusions Pre-hospital identification of infectious focus in suspected sepsis was feasible, and collaboration with primary care physicians increased level of diagnostic accuracy. This allowed initiation of intravenous focus-directed antibiotics more than one hour before arrival in hospital in a rural setting. The effect of pre-hospital therapy on timing was much stronger than in previous studies from more urban areas.

Abstract Seagrass meadows are well-known for their capacity to capture and store blue carbon in sediments. However carbon stocks vary significantly between meadows, spanning more than three orders of magnitude on both local and global scales. Understanding the drivers of seagrass carbon stocks could help improve strategies for incorporating blue carbon into management plans. Here, we measured sediment carbon stocks in eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadows and unvegetated areas along the Norwegian coast, spanning wide gradients in temperature, wave exposure, water depth, salinity, and eelgrass biomass. Carbon stocks were generally higher in eelgrass meadows than in adjacent unvegetated areas, yet they displayed considerable variation (400 − 30 000 g C m−2 at 50 cm sediment depth) even among nearby sites. Overall, the highest carbon stocks were found in deeper, muddier, sheltered meadows near river mouths. These sites likely have the highest input and retention of carbon from different sources. Consequently, they should be prioritized as conservation targets for preserving coastal blue carbon stocks. Despite ever-increasing efforts to quantify seagrass blue carbon globally, high uncertainties still persist, partly due to differing methodologies, processes, and environmental context. Blue carbon stock estimates could be improved through the coordination of standardised mapping and sampling methods.

Abstract Background New mothers and fathers are at risk of developing postnatal depressive problems. To understand how postnatal depressive symptoms unfold over time, analyses at the within-person level are necessary. Inspecting postnatal depressive problems at the symptom level provides a novel perspective, ultimately offering insight into which symptoms contribute to the elevation of other symptoms over time. Methods Panel graphical vector-autoregression (GVAR) models were applied to analyze the within-person temporal and contemporaneous relations between depressive symptoms across the postnatal period in new mothers and fathers (at T1; N mothers = 869, N fathers = 579). Depressive symptoms were assessed at 6-, 12-, and 18-months postpartum, using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Results The results revealed that for mothers, sadness was a key symptom predicting symptom increases in multiple other depressive symptoms and itself (autoregressive effect) over time. Furthermore, anxiousness and feeling scared predicted each other across the postnatal period in mothers. For fathers, the most central predicting symptom in the overall network of symptoms was being anxious, while self-blame and being overwhelmed had strong self-maintaining roles in the fathers’ symptomatology, indicating that these could be key features in fathers experiencing postnatal depressive problems. The pattern of symptoms that mothers and fathers experienced within the same time window (contemporaneous associations), shared many of the same characteristics compared to the temporal structure. Conclusions This study suggests that across the postnatal period, from 6- to 18-months postpartum, depressive symptoms in mothers and fathers contribute differently to the pattern of depressive problems, highlighting sadness as a key feature in maternal symptomatology and anxiousness components in paternal symptomatology.

BackgroundeHealth communication interventions have been shown to offer individuals with chronic kidney disease the opportunity to embrace dialysis therapies with greater confidence, the potential to obtain better clinical outcomes, and an increased quality of life. eHealth is an emerging field that offers diverse, flexible designs and delivery options. However, existing evidence on eHealth communication among patients undergoing hemodialysis is sparse and scattered and lacks systematization. ObjectiveThis scoping review aims to identify and map the current evidence on patient participation in eHealth communication interventions. We aimed to map the associations between interventions and electronic health records, the participative role of individuals living with chronic kidney disease and undergoing hemodialysis, and the barriers to and facilitators of patient involvement in eHealth communication with health care professionals. MethodsThis study used the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for conducting a scoping review. Studies eligible for inclusion were those that included adult patients (aged >18 y) undergoing all types of hemodialysis, including prescheduled in-center hemodialysis and conventional home-based hemodialysis. Systematic searches were completed in Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, EBSCOhost CINAHL with Full Text, Scopus, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Extracted data from the included studies were presented in figures and tables along with descriptions that responded to the research questions. This review was reported according to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. ResultsIn total, 9 peer-reviewed studies were included. The main result was a low participative patient role and a vaguely described link to electronic health records. The key participative facilitators were availability of and access to the intervention; security, trust, and confidence; patient knowledge of their health situation and use of self-care; and patient preparedness for an uncertain future health situation and the ability to relate to family and friends about it. The key participative barriers were lack of availability of and access to information, mistrust and lack of safety, lack of knowledge of health situation and self-care, and relational issues. All barriers and facilitators were related to health literacy. ConclusionsThis scoping review summarizes 4 specific and 3 nonspecific eHealth communication interventions developed and evaluated in various studies involving patients receiving hemodialysis. A knowledge gap exists between low levels of patient participation in eHealth communication and patients’ limited access to electronic health records. eHealth communication interventions should implement patient participation and focus on the fact that different modalities of eHealth communication can complement face-to-face communication. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR2-10.2196/38615

Comparative studies of inequality based on archaeological data rely on universal notions of status or prestige that are not always meaningful across diverse cultural contexts. Here, the authors evaluate three broadly contemporaneous urban communities (Marothodi, Molokwane and Kaditshwene) in the southern African interior in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries AD. The study combines a statistical measure of inequality, the Gini coefficient, with insights from the rich ethnohistorical archives of African knowledge systems. The results suggest markedly different levels of inequality, but contextualisation points to divergent social strategies for settlement organisation and for managing sociopolitical insecurity. The findings raise important questions about cross-cultural indices of social inequality. Keywords: Southern Africa, farming communities, settlement, inequality, Gini coefficient, Lorenz curve, Introduction How can remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and statistical tools be used to assess and promote African knowledge systems and the continent's heritage? In what ways can such [...]

This article reports the results of a participatory action research study into Norwegian generalist music teacher education, that intended to develop spaces for preservice music teachers to foster agency and prepare for future teaching. We aimed to challenge the discursive practice of generalist music teacher education through participatory action research conducted from January to April 2020 at two central teacher education institutions in Norway. In this article, we present extracts from transcribed video recordings of the completed participatory action research that identify preservice music teachers' positioning in interactions as a response to the challenges posed by action research events. Through our analysis, which draws on positioning theory from discourse psychology, we identify three primary positions taken up by preservice music teachers: (a) novices, (b) not yet independent, and (c) resource persons. The study identifies a need to interrupt traditional music teaching as a discursive practice that maintains power relations that obstruct preservice music teachers' agency in their education. We conclude that more systematic long-term work is needed to change both educator and student habits and mind-sets.

The goal of this study was to explore the development and implementation of a protocol for real-time fMRI neurofeedback (rtfMRI-nf) and to assess the potential for enhancing the selective brain activation using stimuli from Virtual Reality (VR). In this study we focused on two specific brain regions, supplementary motor area (SMA) and right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG). Publications by other study groups have suggested impaired function in these specific brain regions in patients with the diagnoses Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Tourette’s Syndrome (TS). This study explored the development of a protocol to investigate if attention and contextual memory may be used to systematically strengthen the procedure of rtfMRI-nf.

Abstract The use of genetic engineering to generate point mutations in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is essential for studying a specific genetic effect in an isogenic background. We demonstrate that a combination of p53 inhibition and pro-survival small molecules achieves a homologous recombination rate higher than 90% using Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) in human iPSCs. Our protocol reduces the effort and time required to create isogenic lines.

The present paper is a data note related to the paper “Gender perspectives on a flipped classroom environment”. The paper drew on an in-depth analysis of the interview with a single female student called Sofia and attempted to analyze different gender related interactions between students in group work situations experienced by this student. The transcript from this interview was translated from Norwegian to English and is the basis for this data note.

Objective: This study applied the Family Systems Illness Model to examine how child disorder severity influences mental health in mothers and fathers of children with chronic (mainly developmental) disorders (CD). Methods: We measured parental mental health and perceived child disorder severity among 204 mothers and 125 fathers of 220 children with CD and compared the mental health scores with norms. We analyzed how much of the variance in parental mental health was explained by child disorder severity, including discrepancy between maternally and paternally perceived severity. Results: Compared to norms, we found elevated mental health problems in both mothers (d = 0.45) and fathers (d = 0.20) of children with CD. Mothers had higher scores than fathers on both mental health problems (d = 0.63) and severity (d = 0.43). Perceived disorder severity was similarly associated with mental health problems for mothers (β = 0.23) and fathers (β = 0.34). Discrepancy between maternal and paternal perceived disorder severity did not influence parental mental health. Conclusion: Findings suggest gender-specific challenges in parenting children with CD. Subjective perception of disorder severity plays a substantial role for parental mental health. Innovation: This comparative study of mothers and fathers contributes to a predominantly mother-focused field.

There is considerable variability in developmental outcomes of children whose mothers experience depression. Few longitudinal studies have examined contributions of paternal involvement in the association between maternal postnatal depression (PND) and offspring development. We examined pathways from maternal PND at 8 weeks (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; total score) to offspring emotional and behavioral development at 7 years (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire; total score) through behavioral, affective, and cognitive dimensions of paternal involvement in a U.K.-based birth cohort (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children; n = 3,434). Analyses were adjusted for baseline confounders and paternal PND (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; total score) as an intermediate confounder. Maternal PND was strongly associated with offspring development, but this association was not mediated by the combination of all indirect pathways through various dimensions of paternal involvement. Only father--child conflict emerged as a risk factor for adverse offspring development and as a mediator in the association between maternal PND and offspring development (albeit the effect size was small). If found causal, interventions that reduce father-child conflict may reduce the risk of adverse development in offspring of mothers with PND.

BackgroundType 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease associated with insulin-producing beta cell destruction, declining insulin secretion, and elevated blood glucose. Physical activity improves glycaemic control and cardiovascular health. This study explores acute effects of maximal exhaustion induced by a cardiopulmonary exercise on macro- and microvascular parameters in type 1 diabetes.MethodologyTwenty-five participants with type 1 diabetes (14 males, 11 females), aged 41.4 ± 11.87 years, BMI 23.7 ± 3.08, completed a repeated-measure study. Measurements pre-, post-, 30- and 60-minutes post-exhaustion involved a maximal incremental cardio-pulmonary exercise test. Macro- and microvascular parameters were assessed using VICORDER® and retinal blood vessel image analysis. Repeated measures ANOVA in SPSS (Version 27.0) analysed data.ResultsPost-exercise, heart rate increased (p

Abstract The Arctic archipelago of Svalbard is a hotspot of global warming and many fjords experience a continuous increase in seawater temperature and glacial melt while sea‐ice cover declines. In 1996/1998, 2012–2014, and 2021 macroalgal biomass and species diversity were quantified at the study site Hansneset, Kongsfjorden (W‐Spitsbergen) in order to identify potential changes over time. In 2021, we repeated the earlier studies by stratified random sampling (1 × 1 m2, n = 3) along a sublittoral depth transect (0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 m) and investigated the lower depth limits of dominant brown algae between 3 and 19 m. The maximum fresh weight (FW) of all seaweeds was 11.5 kg m−2 at 2.5 m and to 99.9% constituted of kelp. Although biomass distribution along the depth transect in 2021 was not significantly different compared to 2012/2013, the digitate kelp community (Laminaria digitata/Hedophyllum nigripes) had transformed into an Alaria esculenta‐dominated kelp forest. Consequently, a pronounced shift in kelp forest structure occurred over time as we demonstrate that biomass allocation to thallus parts is kelp species‐specific. Over the past decade, kelp demography changed and in 2021 a balanced age structure of kelps (juveniles plus many older kelp individuals) was only apparent at 2.5 m. In addition, the abundances and lower depth limits of all dominant brown algae declined noticeably over the last 25 years while the red algal flora abundance remained unchanged at depth. We propose that the major factor driving the observed changes in the macroalgal community are alterations in underwater light climate, as in situ data showed increasing turbidity and decreasing irradiance since 2012 and 2017, respectively. As a consequence, the interplay between kelp forest retreat to lower depth levels caused by coastal darkening and potential macroalgal biomass gain with increasing temperatures will possibly intensify in the future with unforeseen consequences for melting Arctic coasts and fjord ecosystem services.

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the association between age at menarche and cardiovascular (CV) events through a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. A comprehensive literature search covering studies published from January 1, 2000, to October 31, 2023, was conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus. Twenty-nine observational studies involving 4,931,160 adult women aged 18 years or older were included. The meta-analysis revealed a J-shaped association between age at menarche and CV events. Individuals with menarche at 12–13 years exhibited the lowest risk, while those with younger (≤ 11 years) or older ages (14–15 years and ≥ 16 years) showed an increased risk. Notably, individuals with age at menarche of 16 years and older had the highest risk of CV events. The pooled odds of CV mortality in age at menarche categories 14–15 years and ≥ 16 years were 37% (OR: 1.37, 95% CI 1.14–1.64, I2: 76.9%) and 64% (OR: 1.64, 95% CI 1.20–2.24, I2: 87%) higher than referent age at menarche 12–13 years. No statistically significant difference was found in CV mortality risk between individuals with age at menarche ≤ 11 years and those with age at menarche 12–13 years. The ORs for coronary heart disease were significantly higher for age at menarche ≥ 16 years (35% increase), while no significant difference was found for age at menarche ≤ 11 years or 14–15 years compared to age at menarche 12–13 years. Regarding stroke, the ORs for age at menarche ≤ 11, 14–15, and ≥ 16 years were significantly higher (7%, 24%, and 94% increase, respectively) compared to age at menarche 12–13 years. Dose–response meta-analysis and one-stage random-effect cubic spline models confirmed the J-shaped risk pattern. Meta-regression indicated that age and BMI were not significant sources of heterogeneity. Sensitivity analyses and the absence of publication bias further supported the robustness of the findings. This study concludes that age at menarche is independently associated with CV events, with a J-shaped pattern. The findings underscore the significance of considering menarche age as an independent risk factor for CV events. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and explore potential underlying mechanisms.

Abstract Background Physical activity (PA) and dietary habits (DH) play a crucial role on quality of life and health outcomes from various aspects. Methods This study aims to investigate the relations between recommended daily levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in 8 to 9 year old pupils, and their body mass index (BMI), DH, cognitive functions and attention problem scores by network analysis. Study participants were split into two groups based on their MVPA levels on weekdays. Results Our findings suggest that children who reach recommended MVPA levels consume more vegetables and fruits, eat breakfast more frequently, have better motor speed and lower impulsivity score. Conclusions The number of interlinkages between various parameters in network structure for children who do not reach recommended MVPA levels is greater and more intense, highlighting the differences between the groups and suggesting that different interventions and approaches to improve/change lifestyle habits might be used.

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by progressive neurodegeneration, but the specific events that cause cell death remain poorly understood. Death Induced by Survival gene Elimination (DISE) is a cell death mechanism mediated by short (s) RNAs acting through the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). DISE is thus a form of RNA interference, in which G-rich 6mer seed sequences in the sRNAs (position 2-7) target hundreds of C-rich 6mer seed matches in genes essential for cell survival, resulting in the activation of cell death pathways. Here, using Argonaute precipitation and RNAseq (Ago-RP-Seq), we analyze RISC-bound sRNAs to quantify 6mer seed toxicity in several model systems. In mouse AD models and aging brain, in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons from AD patients, and in cells exposed to Aβ42 oligomers, RISC-bound sRNAs show a shift to more toxic 6mer seeds compared to controls. In contrast, in brains of “SuperAgers”, humans over age 80 who have superior memory performance, RISC-bound sRNAs are shifted to more nontoxic 6mer seeds. Cells depleted of nontoxic sRNAs are sensitized to Aβ42-induced cell death, and reintroducing nontoxic RNAs is protective. Altogether, the correlation between DISE and Aβ42 toxicity suggests that increasing the levels of nontoxic miRNAs in the brain or blocking the activity of toxic RISC-bound sRNAs could ameliorate neurodegeneration.

In this study, we employ a participatory action research framework to investigate how preservice music teachers can take part in developing their own education. The main focus is on how two music teacher educators at two institutions in Norway work to create a space for student voice and participation. The study's data are analysed and presented through a combination of self-study methodology and narrative analysis conducted by two of the authors, followed by reflections by the two other authors. In these analytical steps, we identify four teacher roles in the form of metaphors: 'the impatient manager', 'the conflicted gatekeeper', 'the balancing artist' and 'the reluctant host'. These roles are further discussed in light of theoretical perspectives on student voice and participation. The results reveal challenges in the use of participatory action research and in making changes to music teacher education.