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Concerns over the ecological impacts of urban road runoff have increased, partly due to recent research into the harmful impacts of tire particles and their chemical leachates. This study aimed to help the community of researchers, regulators and policy advisers in scoping out the priority areas for further study. To improve our understanding of these issues an interdisciplinary, international network consisting of experts (United Kingdom, Norway, United States, Australia, South Korea, Finland, Austria, China and Canada) was formed. We synthesised the current state of the knowledge and highlighted priority research areas for tire particles (in their different forms) and their leachates. Ten priority research questions with high importance were identified under four themes (environmental presence and detection; chemicals of concern; biotic impacts; mitigation and regulation). The priority research questions include the importance of increasing the understanding of the fate and transport of these contaminants; better alignment of toxicity studies; obtaining the holistic understanding of the impacts; and risks they pose across different ecosystem services. These issues have to be addressed globally for a sustainable solution. We highlight how the establishment of the intergovernmental science-policy panel on chemicals, waste, and pollution prevention could further address these issues on a global level through coordinated knowledge transfer of car tire research and regulation. We hope that the outputs from this research paper will reduce scientific uncertainty in assessing and managing environmental risks from TP and their leachates and aid any potential future policy and regulatory development., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Depression is among the most frequent reasons for sick leave, whereas health authorities recommend a rather strict practice, arguing that work is health-promoting. We aimed to explore GPs' attitudes and practices regarding sick leave certification for depressed patients., Methods: A cross-sectional study using the Norwegian Physician Survey (N = 1617, 70% response rate) in 2021. The GPs in the panel (N = 221) responded to questions about sick leave certification and cooperation with employers and the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (Norwegian acronym: Nav) regarding patients with depression. We used crosstabulation with chi square statistics and logistic regression models to assess differences among GPs., Results: Among 221 GPs, 62% often/very often perceived patients' questions for sick leave certification as the main reason for encountering. A total of 46% often/very often considered patients' expectations inappropriate, with female GPs more frequently than male GPs (36% vs 56%, p = 0.005) and younger GPs more frequently than their older counterparts (p < 0.001). Although 68% considered sick leave as part of treatment, only 16% often/very often initiated sick leave unless patients raised the question. Sixty-seven percent of GPs reported to often/very often avoid sick listing, if possible, more females than males. GPs who often/very often considered questions for sick leave inappropriate less often considered sick leave as part of treatment (odds ratio (OR): 0.25; 95% CI: 0.13-0.49), and less often report a well-functioning cooperation with Nav (OR:0.37; 95% CI:0.14-0.96). GPs who often/very often considered sick leave as part of treatment more often proposed sick leave for their patients (OR:4.70; 96% CI 1.57-14.01) and reported a less strict approach to sick listing (OR: 40; 95% CI: 0.20-0.79). Ninety-five percent of the GPs rarely/never had direct contact with patients' employers, whereas 92% often/very often asked patients about their dialogue with the workplace. Eighty-eight percent of the GPs often/very often experienced cooperation with NAV as good, and 87% often/very often felt trusted by them., Conclusions: Most GPs reported a strict attitude towards sick leave for depression, whereas one-third had a less strict approach. Different perceptions of the appropriateness of sick listing indicate variations in treatment and access to social security benefits., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The survey was approved by the Norwegian Agency for Shared Services in Education and Research. The Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics found that this study did not require approval from the decision IRB 0000 1870. All the members of the panel provided informed written consent to participate in the study. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Higher maternal body mass index (BMI) is associated with metabolic disturbances and pregnancy complications. We aimed to examine whether metabolic profiles in early pregnancy were associated with metabolic pregnancy complications in women with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 )., Material and Methods: Nested cohort study from a prospective longitudinal cohort (n = 1031) of women who were healthy prior to pregnancy and gave birth at Oslo University Hospital from 2002-2008. The sample comprised 81 women with obesity. Metabolic pregnancy complications included gestational diabetes mellitus, gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. In plasma samples from gestational weeks 14-16, 91 metabolites were analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We performed a principal component analysis to reduce the metabolic dimensions. Logistic regression models were fitted to estimate crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of metabolic pregnancy complications., Results: Twenty-four out of 81 women developed metabolic pregnancy complications (gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and/or gestational diabetes). Two of five principal components (80 % explained variance) were significantly associated with metabolic pregnancy complications. The ratio of monounsaturated to total fatty acids increased the risk of metabolic pregnancy complications (OR 2.09, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.25-3.75), while the ratio of polyunsaturated to monounsaturated fatty acids decreased the risk (OR 0.54, 95 % CI 0.30-0.89). The ratio of omega-3 to total fatty acids (OR 0.59, 95 % CI 0.34-0.98) and the ratio of docosahexaenoic acid to total fatty acids (OR 0.57, 95 % CI 0.31-0.97) also decreased the risk of metabolic pregnancy complications., Conclusion: Metabolic profile in early pregnancy was associated with risk of metabolic pregnancy complications in women with obesity. We observed the strongest associations between fatty acid composition and metabolic pregnancy complications., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Marie Cecilie P Roland and Trond M. Michelsen report financial support was provided by South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Pregnancy involves changes in maternal metabolism that differ between normal-weight women and women with overweight or obesity, including changes in glucose, insulin, lipids, and adipokines. These changes contribute to altered risk profiles for adverse outcomes for both mother and child during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. We explored associations between visceral fat and prepregnancy body mass index (pBMI), respectively, with glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as with adipokines and C-reactive protein (CRP), measured fasting in early and late pregnancy. We hypothesized that among women with pBMI ≥35 kg/m 2 , visceral fat measured around gestational week 18 (visceral fat18) would show associations with greater number of metabolic variables during pregnancy, than pBMI., Material and Methods: This prospective longitudinal cohort study was conducted at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Drammen Hospital from 2016 to 2019. We included 166 nulliparous (47.6%) and parous pregnant women with pBMI ≥35 kg/m 2 and singleton pregnancy. Women with type 1 diabetes were excluded. We evaluated associations of pBMI and visceral fat estimated with bioimpedance weight around gestational week 18 (visceral fat18) with fasting metabolic measures around gestational weeks 18 and 36 using median regression models. We used the paired t-test or the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, as appropriate, to analyze changes in metabolic measures from early to late pregnancy, and median regression to estimate crude and adjusted differences in medians of 21 maternal metabolic measures associated with one-unit changes in pBMI and visceral fat18, respectively., Results: pBMI and visceral fat18 were highly correlated and showed associations with similar metabolic measures in pregnancy in crude analysis. After mutual adjustment for each other in addition to age and parity, pBMI was associated with glucose metabolism, in particular fasting insulin, whereas visceral fat18 was primarily associated with leptin., Conclusions: Among pregnant women with BMI ≥35 kg/m 2 , easily obtainable pBMI and the more resource-demanding estimate of visceral fat18 exhibit divergent associations with metabolic measures; pBMI was positively associated with insulin, glucose, and HbA1c, while visceral fat18 was positively associated with leptin. We did not find visceral fat18 to be associated with greater number of metabolic factors than pBMI., (© 2024 The Author(s). Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology (NFOG).)

Background: We aimed to examine the inter-reliability and agreement among midwives when assessing the fetal heart rate (FHR) using the handheld Doppler. The primary aim was to measure the reliability and agreement of FHR baseline (baseline) as beats per minute (bpm). The secondary aims were to measure fluctuations from the baseline, defined as increases and decreases, and classifications (normal or abnormal) of FHR soundtracks. This is the first interrater reliability and agreement study on intermittent auscultation (IA) to our knowledge., Methods: The participant population consisted of 154 women in labor, from a mixed-risk population and admitted to hospital for intrapartum care. The rater population were 16 midwives from various maternity care settings in Norway. A total of 154 soundtracks were recorded with a handheld Doppler device, and the 16 raters assessed 1-min soundtracks once, through an online survey (Nettskjema). They assessed the baseline, FHR increase or decrease, and the FHR classification. The primary outcome, baseline, was measured with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The secondary outcomes were measured with kappa and proportion of agreement., Results: The interrater reliability for the baseline (bpm) was ICC(A,1) 0.74 (95% CI 0.69-0.78). On average, an absolute difference of 7.9 bpm (95% CI 7.3-8.5 bpm) was observed between pairs of raters., Conclusion: Our results demonstrate an acceptable level of reliability and agreement in assessing the baseline using a handheld Doppler., (© 2024 The Author(s). Birth published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: To explore general practitioners' experiences and reflections on how the current Norwegian guideline for screening for gestational diabetes affects their clinical practice., Design: A qualitive study in which data were collected through semi-structured focus group interviews and analyzed thematically., Setting and Subjects: Five focus groups conducted in 2020 among GPs in Norway; three interviews took place face-to-face and two were held digitally. The total number of participants was 31., Results: GPs acknowledged the potential benefits of more extensive screening, but had concerns about the medicalization of pregnancy, stating that some women experienced considerable anxiety. The GPs expressed doubts about the guideline's evidence base but differed in how they interpreted what the guideline was asking them to do. Some offered eligible women the opportunity to be screened, while other set up a screening appointment without consulting the women first. For some, fear of incrimination made them recommend screening without being convinced that it was the right thing for the patient., Conclusions: It is unclear whether the guideline for gestational diabetes requires GPs to recommend screening to pregnant women or if they should provide neutral information about the availability of screening. This ambiguity should be addressed, and the guideline evaluated against the core principles of general practice.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and secular trends of obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) in vacuum and forceps deliveries in Norway, both with and without episiotomy., Design: Population-based real-world data collected during 2001-2018., Setting: Medical Birth Registry Norway., Population or Sample: Nulliparous women with singleton foetuses in a cephalic presentation delivered by either vacuum or forceps (n = 70 783)., Methods: Logistic regression analyses were applied to the OASIS prevalence in six 3-year time periods. Both crude odds ratios and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined., Main Outcome Measures: OASIS prevalence., Results: The OASIS prevalence in vacuum and forceps deliveries decreased from 14.8% during 2001-2003 to 5.2% during 2016-2018. The overall reduction between the first and last 3-year time period was 61% (aOR = 0.39, 95% CIs = 0.35-0.43). The only exception to this decreasing trend in OASIS was found in forceps deliveries performed without an episiotomy. The OASIS prevalence was approximately twofold higher in forceps compared to vacuum deliveries (aOR = 1.92, 95% CIs = 1.79-2.05). Performing either a mediolateral or lateral episiotomy was associated with a 45% decrease in the prevalence of OASIS relative to no episiotomy (aOR = 0.55, 95% CIs = 0.52-0.58)., Conclusions: Opting for vacuum rather than forceps delivery in conjunction with a mediolateral or lateral episiotomy could significantly lower the OASIS prevalence in nulliparous women., (© 2024 The Author(s). BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: While it is increasingly acknowledged that conduct problems and peer problems often co-occur in development, less is known about the ways in which peer problems may alter the developmental course of conduct problems for distinct subgroups., Methods: Using data from a large population-based study in Norway (the Bergen Child Study/youth@hordaland; 47.4% males), we estimated group-based trajectories of conduct problems and the presence of time-varying peer problems on the developmental progression of conduct problems between seven and 19 years of age. Risk factors for group membership were also examined., Results: A 3-group model of conduct problems best fit the data (non-engagers, low-engagers, moderate-stable). The presence of peer problems increased the estimated level of conduct problems for both the low-engagers and moderate-stable groups across adolescence. No differences in conduct problems were observed when peer problems were present in childhood or preadolescence for these two groups, nor for the non-engagers group at any point. Being male, having lower perceived economic wellbeing, and lower levels of parental education predicted group membership for the moderate-stable group, whilst lower paternal education predicted membership for the low-engagers group., Conclusions: Support for developmental 'turning points' was found, suggesting that adolescence is a particularly salient time for those with conduct problems. In particular, the presence of peer problems can increase observed conduct problems at this stage in development., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: In Norway, the number of people on sick leave and health-related absence from work has increased over the last few years, and mental illness is one of the main contributing factors. Individual Placement and Support (IPS) and the Qualification Program (QP) are two work-oriented measures offered by Norwegian labor and welfare authorities, aimed at increasing labor market participation among people with health-related problems. The aim of this study was to explore which factors people with mental illnesses found helpful for attaining and retaining work, and their experiences with taking part in IPS and the QP., Methods: The study had a qualitative explorative design. Eight semi-structured interviews with individuals who had attained and retained work after receiving IPS or taking part in the QP were conducted. The data were analyzed using systematic text condensation, a thematic and descriptive, cross-case analysis strategy., Results: The analysis revealed three main themes, each related to the contexts of work and daily life: (1) inclusion and support, (2) structure and routines, and (3) motivation and self-confidence. The participants emphasized the importance of feeling included and supported both at work and by their family and friends. Furthermore, structures and routines at work and in the participants' daily lives kept them engaged and made them feel better, which was important for retaining work. Having the motivation to attain and retain work was essential and seemed to increase over time together with improved self-confidence as a result of being able to stay at work., Conclusion: Inclusion, support, structure, routines, and motivation are decisive for people with mental illnesses in changing their view of their health and increasing their independence and experiences of coping in work and everyday life. Taking part in work-oriented measures seemed to function as a "gateway" to changing behavior for the participants, both in work situations as well as more generally in life., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The Norwegian Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics exempted the project (reference #497816) because it did not fall under the Health Research Act LOV-2008-06-20-44 §4a. The Act on Medical and Health Research (the Health Research Act). http://app.uio.no/ub/ujur/oversatte-lover/data/lov-20080620-044-eng.pdf . and referred it to the Data Protection Services at the Norwegian Centre for Research Data, who approved the study (reference #238288). The study followed the basic principles of the Helsinki Declaration. Written informed consent was obtained from all the participants in the study. The interviews were audio-recorded using encrypted software and thereafter transcribed using pseudonyms. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Effluent water from recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) contains nutrients from fish excrements and leftover feed. This study investigated the nutrient remediation potential from RAS effluent water through microalgae cultivation in 25 L tubular reactors. We compared nutrient uptake and biomass productivity in continuous and perfusion cultivation modes for freshwater, brackish water and saltwater. Stable high biomass densities were achieved with additional nitrate during continuous cultivation (up to 3.88 g L -1 ) or by membrane filtration during perfusion cultivation (up to 3.59 g L -1 ). A life cycle assessment (LCA) compared the two different cultivation modes in terms of environmental sustainability on a 1 ha scale. The LCA and preliminary economic assessment showed that perfusion cultivation appears to have a lower environmental impact for relatively low nutrient concentrations, but additional equipment and higher energy demands are leading to increased operational (+6 %) and capital expenses (up to +60 %)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Guidelines recommend follow-up within 2 weeks for patients starting medication for depression. Knowledge is lacking about how general practitioners' (GPs) follow-up varies with patients' sociodemographic characteristics., Objective: To describe follow-up by GP and specialist in mental healthcare provided to men and women with depression within 3 months of starting drug therapy. Furthermore, to examine whether follow-up varied according to patients' age and education., Methods: Registry-based cohort study comprising all patients aged ≥18 years in Norway with a new depression episode in 2014 who started on antidepressants within 12 months from diagnosis. Patients' age and educational level were the exposures. Outcomes were follow-up by GP and/or mental healthcare specialist, and talking therapy with GP, within 90 days of first prescription. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the likelihood of having follow-up contacts. Log binomial regression analysis was performed to explore the likelihood of having talking therapy with a GP. Time to first contact was illustrated by Kaplan-Meier survival curves., Results: The study population comprised 17 000 patients, mean age 45.7 years, 60.6% women. Only 27.8% of the patients were followed up by GP and/or specialist within 2 weeks of the first drug dispensing, 67.1% within 90 days. Older or less educated men and women received less and later contacts than the younger or more highly educated., Conclusions: Differences in age and educational level were associated with follow-up of depressed patients who started medication. This may indicate unwarranted variation in depression care that GPs should consider when prescribing antidepressants., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Background: The primary cause of antimicrobial resistance is excessive and non-indicated antibiotic use., Aim: To evaluate the impact of a multifaceted intervention aimed at various healthcare professionals (HCPs) on antibiotic prescribing and dispensing for common infections., Design and Setting: Before-and-after study set in general practice, out-of-hours services, nursing homes, and community pharmacies in France, Greece, Lithuania, Poland, and Spain., Methods: Following the Audit Project Odense method, HCPs from these four settings self-registered encounters with patients related to antibiotic prescribing and dispensing before and after an intervention (February-April 2022 and February-April 2023). Prior to the second registration, the HCPs undertook a multifaceted intervention, which included reviewing and discussing feedback on the first registration's results, enhancing communication skills, and providing communication tools. Indicators to identify potentially unnecessary prescriptions and non-first-line antibiotic choices were developed, and the results of the two registrations were compared., Results: A total of 345 HCPs registered 10 744 infections in the first registration period and 10 207 infections in the second period. In general practice, participants showed a significant 9.8% reduction in unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions in the second period, whereas limited or no effect was observed in out-of-hours services and nursing homes (0.8% reduction and 4.5% increase, respectively). Pharmacies demonstrated an 18% increase in safety checks, and correct advice in pharmacies rose by 17%., Conclusion: External factors like COVID-19, antibiotic shortages, and a streptococcal epidemic impacted the intervention's benefits. Despite this, the intervention successfully improved antibiotic use in both settings., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Geological CO 2 sequestration is a proven method for mitigating climate change by reducing atmospheric CO 2 levels. However, CO 2 injection often induces salt precipitation, leading to decreased formation permeability, which in turn limits CO 2 injectivity and storage capacity. Conventional approaches, such as freshwater and low-salinity water injection, have been employed to mitigate salt precipitation. Despite their widespread use, these methods provide only temporary improvement and can be ineffective in some scenarios, resulting in long-term issues such as salt recrystallization and clay swelling. Given the complexity and significance of this issue, a comprehensive review of salt precipitation mechanisms and remediation techniques is essential. This paper critically examines the processes of salt precipitation during CO 2 injection in saline aquifers and evaluates various remediation techniques aimed at improving CO 2 injectivity. The paper reviews the influence of CO 2 flow dynamics, geochemical reactions, and fluid properties on salt precipitation and pore throat accumulation, assessing the efficacy and limitations of existing mitigation methods. Additionally, the paper explores alternative techniques with potential for long-term CO 2 sequestration, analyzing their advantages and drawbacks. Based on insights from the reviewed sources, the paper recommends exploring alternative treatment measures and the integration of hybrid solutions to enhance CO 2 injectivity. The findings presented serve as a valuable reference for advancing research and practice in this critical area, offering a deeper understanding of the challenges and potential solutions for effective CO 2 sequestration in saline aquifers., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: There is a growing prevalence of nonhealing wounds and chronic diseases in society, and there is an associated need for wound management solutions that include the use of telemedicine. A broad spectrum of factors influences the planning and execution of interventions within telemedicine in chronic wound management, spanning organizations, technologies, and individuals, including professionals and patients. The Telemedicine and Ambulatory Wound Care Team (TELE-AMBUS) project applies a whole-system research approach to account for this spectrum of factors., Objective: The primary objective of this study was to explore and analyze the implementation and consequences of an outpatient wound management model, comprising 2 interconnected quality improvement interventions (ie, telemedicine and ambulatory wound care team) aimed at older and vulnerable patients with chronic wounds, across the specialist and primary health care sectors. Embedded in this objective is the aim to improve the competence levels of health care providers and, consequently, the service quality of outpatient wound management across specialist and primary health care services., Methods: This project examines the implementation and consequences of an outpatient wound management model through a combined process and economic evaluation research strategy. A sociotechnical system theory approach and multiple work package design support the examination. The project uses observations, conversations, interviews, and economic assessments to gather rich, in-depth insights and understanding on why and how the new wound management model contributes to a change or not compared with the traditional treatment model., Results: The project has been funded from 2021 to 2025. Baseline interviews have been conducted since April 2022 and concluded in January 2024. Fieldwork, including nonparticipant observations, semistructured interviews, and informal conversations, has been conducted since November 2022 and is expected to conclude in March 2025. In parallel and as part of the cost-effectiveness analyses, time usage data on the outpatient and regular clinical models are being gathered during the fieldwork., Conclusions: We applied a whole-system approach in multiple ways, that is, to design or inform our fieldwork and to explore, evaluate, and translate project findings into practice across services. To our knowledge, this approach has not been undertaken in telemedicine in chronic wound management literature and associated human factors and ergonomics research. Thus, our approach can produce both original and novel research and theoretical results internationally., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): DERR1-10.2196/55502., (©Sindre Aske Høyland, Kari Anne Holte, Olaug Øygarden, Kamrul Islam, Egil Kjerstad, Ragnhild Gjerstad-Sørensen, Synnøve Aske Høyland, Hanne Rusten Wærnes, Pascale Carayon, Maureen Fallon, Sarah Bradbury, Marcus Gürgen, Sissel Eikeland Husebø, Eirin Rødseth. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (https://www.researchprotocols.org), 04.11.2024.)

Spillback effects of the parasitic salmon louse from fish farms to wild fish are a critical environmental concern for countries with wild salmon. The ectoparasitic louse causes significant physical and physiological damage to wild salmonids that probably have long-term impacts on individuals and population dynamics. However, empirical links between injuries and abundance of lice have not been established in the wild. This study establishes a strong association between dorsal fin injuries in wild sea trout ( Salmo trutta ) and infestation with salmon lice at a marine site in Norway. We further assessed the prevalence of such injuries on sea trout returning to spawning grounds from snorkelling observations in 16 rivers in Hardangerfjord, western Norway, from 2007 to 2021. The prevalence of injuries decreased with distance from the fjord outlet, from approximately 70% in middle and outer parts to approximately 10% in the inner parts. Additionally, a negative correlation was found between sea trout population size and the proportion of the population with dorsal fin damage. The results demonstrate that salmon lice inflict high levels of injury on significant portions of sea trout populations in areas with intensive fish farming, leading to poorer population status in affected populations.

Future agricultural practices necessitate green alternatives to replace hazardous insecticides while distinguishing between pests and beneficial insects. Chitosan, as a biological macromolecule derived from chitin, is biodegradable and exhibits low toxicity to non-target organisms, making it a sustainable alternative to synthetic pesticides. This review identifies chitosan-derivatives for insecticidal activity and highlights its efficacy including genotoxicity, defense mechanism, and disruption of insect's exoskeleton at different concentrations against several insect pests. Similarly, synergistic effects of chitosan in combination with natural extracts, essential oils, and plant-derived compounds, enhances insecticidal action against various pests was evaluated. The chitosan-based insecticide formulations (CHIF) in the form of emulsions, microcapsules, and nanoparticles showed efficient insecticide action on the targeted pests with less environmental impact. The current challenges associated with the field-trial application were also recognized, by optimizing potent CHIF-formulation parameters, scaling-up process, and regulatory hurdles addressed alongside potential solutions. These findings will provide insight into achieving the EU mission of reducing chemical pesticides by 50 %., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is sometimes included in temporary endodontic filling materials to modify viscosity. PEG is considered a low hazard chemical, but parenteral PEG exposure is associated with a risk of anaphylaxis. We report 2 cases of anaphylaxis after treatment with an endodontic temporary filling material containing PEG. One patient survived after hospital treatment, but the second case was fatal. Extensive investigations were needed to find the culprit. Allergic reactions to PEG are increasingly reported and have significant implications for the patient. Precautionary measures are discussed., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Environmental DNA (eDNA) preserved in marine sediments is increasingly being used to study past ecosystems. However, little is known about how accurately marine biodiversity is recorded in sediment eDNA archives, especially planktonic taxa. Here, we address this question by comparing eukaryotic diversity in 273 eDNA samples from three water depths and the surface sediments of 24 stations in the Nordic Seas. Analysis of 18S-V9 metabarcoding data reveals distinct eukaryotic assemblages between water and sediment eDNA. Only 40% of Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) detected in water were also found in sediment eDNA. Remarkably, the ASVs shared between water and sediment accounted for 80% of total sequence reads suggesting that a large amount of plankton DNA is transported to the seafloor, predominantly from abundant phytoplankton taxa. However, not all plankton taxa were equally archived on the seafloor. The plankton DNA deposited in the sediments was dominated by diatoms and showed an underrepresentation of certain nano- and picoplankton taxa (Picozoa or Prymnesiophyceae). Our study offers the first insights into the patterns of plankton diversity recorded in sediment in relation to seasonality and spatial variability of environmental conditions in the Nordic Seas. Our results suggest that the genetic composition and structure of the plankton community vary considerably throughout the water column and differ from what accumulates in the sediment. Hence, the interpretation of sedimentary eDNA archives should take into account potential taxonomic and abundance biases when reconstructing past changes in marine biodiversity., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: Quantitative studies examining the occurrence of childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder (CB-PTSD) following severe perineal rupture are lacking. The objective of this population-based study was to investigate the prospective associations between the degree of perineal tear during childbirth and CB-PTSD symptoms, when adjusting for known covariates (maternal age, years of school education, premature birth, and parity). We hypothesized that women with different degrees of perineal tear will differ regarding (1) the level of CB-PTSD symptoms at 8 weeks and 2 years postpartum and (2) the rate of change in CB-PTSD symptoms from 8 weeks to 2 years postpartum., Method: Secondary data analysis from the Akershus Birth Cohort, a large population-based prospective cohort study using self-report questionnaires and hospital record data., Results: The degree of perineal tear was significantly associated with CB-PTSD symptoms at 8 weeks and 2 years postpartum. However, the degree of perineal tear was not significantly associated with the change in CB-PTSD symptoms over time. Similar patterns were found for both total CB-PTSD symptoms as well as for avoidance and intrusion symptoms only., Conclusion: Results seem to support a dose-response model, suggesting that the higher the severity of the perineal tear, the higher the posttraumatic morbidity., (© 2023 The Authors. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

We investigate the use of various momentum methods in combination with an ensemble approximation of gradients, for accelerated optimization. Although momentum gradient descent methods are popular in machine learning, it is unclear how they perform when applied to time-consuming dynamic problems such as production optimization for petroleum reservoir management. Four different momentum methods are extensively tested on a reservoir test case in one deterministic and one robust setting. The numerical experiments show that momentum strategies yield, on average, a higher net present value with fewer simulations needed., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: The study aimed to assess sexual distress and quality of life in women with moderate-to-severe genital erosive lichen planus (GELP)., Materials and Methods: Thirty-six women with GELP were recruited at the Oslo University Hospital in Norway. The diagnosis was confirmed by a dermatologist with experience in vulvovaginal disease and based on characteristic clinical changes in the vulva and/or vagina, and biopsy results if available. Clinical severity was measured using the GELP score with a score ≥5 required for inclusion. Sexual distress was measured using the revised Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS-R), and quality of life was measured using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Topical steroid treatment was allowed., Results: The mean FSDS-R score was 22.7 (range 0-45) with 27 women reporting high scores for sexual distress (FSDS-R score >15). The mean DLQI score was 8.8 (range 1-19) with 15 women reporting a moderate impact (DLQI score 6-10), and 12 women reporting a very large impact (DLQI score 11-20) of GELP on their quality of life. No clear correlations were found between disease severity assessed by GELP scores and FSDS-R or DLQI scores. Age was not correlated with FSDS-R or DLQI scores., Conclusions: These results demonstrate that a substantial number of women with GELP experience sexual distress and a reduced quality of life., Competing Interests: The authors have declared they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the ASCCP.)

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess associations between pregnancy complications and pregnancy-associated maternal mortality (PAM) within 1 year after childbirth., Design: Population-based cohort study., Setting: Norway, 1967-2020., Population: 1 237 254 mothers with one or more singleton pregnancies registered in the Medical Birth Registry, 1967-2019 and followed in the Cause of Death Registry to 2020., Methods: Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusted for maternal education, age, year of first childbirth and chronic medical conditions., Main Outcome Measures: PAM by lifetime history of pregnancy complications: placental abruption, preeclampsia, preterm birth, perinatal death, small for gestational age (< 2.5 percentile), gestational diabetes and gestational hypertension., Results: Crude OR for PAM was 4.24 (95% CI 3.53-5.10), if complications occurred in the last pregnancy, whereas 2.52 (2.08-3.06) if complications occurred in the first pregnancy, compared to mothers without complications in any pregnancy. Adjusted ORs for PAM when complications occurred in the last pregnancy were, for placental abruption 3.75 (1.20-11.72), preeclampsia: 4.42 (3.17-6.15), preterm birth: 4.32 (3.25-5.75), perinatal death: 24.18 (16.66-35.08), small for gestational age: 2.90 (1.85-4.54), gestational diabetes: 1.43 (0.63-3.25) and pregnancy hypertension: 2.05 (1.12-3.74) compared to mothers without complications. The OR for PAM increased slightly by increasing the number of complicated pregnancies but the trend was stronger for increasing number of complications in the last pregnancy (e.g., during 1999-2019: one complication; 4.14 [2.79-6.13], two complications; 11.50 [6.81-19.43])., Conclusion: Complications in the last pregnancy were more strongly associated with PAM than those in the first pregnancy., (© 2024 The Author(s). BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

We aimed to investigate the risk of hip fracture associated with zoledronic acid treatment compared to alendronate on a population level. The risk of hip fracture was lower in women using zoledronic acid and higher in women who had discontinued treatment. The findings support the effectiveness of intravenous bisphosphonate., Purpose: To investigate whether zoledronic acid (ZOL) was associated with a lower risk of the first hip fracture than alendronate (ALN) in Norway using real-world data., Methods: Nationwide data on drugs dispensed in outpatient pharmacies were individually linked with all hospital-treated hip fractures. Individuals aged 50-89 years without previous hip fracture were included at their first filling of a prescription for ALN or ZOL during 2005-2016. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for first hip fracture by time-varying exposure to ZOL versus ALN were estimated in sex-stratified flexible parametric survival analyses. Covariates included time-varying accumulated ALN exposure and comorbidity level expressed by the prescription-based Rx-Risk Comorbidity Index, marital status, education, and residential urbanity., Results: Of 75,250 women who initiated treatment, 72,614 (96.5%) were exposed to ALN and 6366 (8.5%) to ZOL. Of 12,739 men who initiated treatment, 12,311 (96.6%) were exposed to ALN and 784 (6.2%) to ZOL. In women, the HR for first hip fracture was 0.75 (95% CI: 0.61-0.91) for ZOL versus ALN. In men, the corresponding HR was 0.59 (95% CI: 0.32-1.07). Discontinued treatment was associated with increased risk compared with current ALN treatment in women (HR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.24-1.42, men: HR 1.13 (95% CI: 0.95-1.35))., Conclusions: In women, the risk of first hip fracture when treated with ZOL was 25% lower than when treated with ALN. Discontinued treatment was associated with a 33% increase in hip fracture risk. Similar, albeit statistically non-significant, results were observed in men., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Hydroelectric power facilities can generate episodic total dissolved gas supersaturation (TDGS), which is harmful to aquatic life. We developed a decision tree-based risk assessment to identify the potential for TDGS at hydropower plants and conducted validation measurements at selected facilities. Applying the risk model to Norway's hydropower plants (n = 1696) identified 473 (28 %) high-risk plants characterized by secondary intakes and Francis or Kaplan turbines, which are prone to generating TDGS when air is entrained. More than half of them discharge directly to rivers (283, 17 % of total). Measurements at 11 high-risk plants showed that 8 of them exhibited biologically relevant TDGS (120 % to 229 %). In Austria and Germany, the analysis of hydropower plants was limited due to significant data constraints. Out of 153 hydropower plants in Austria, 80 % were categorized at moderate risk for TDGS. Two Austrian plants were monitored, revealing instances of TDGS in both (up to 125 %). In Germany, out of 403 hydropower plants, 265 (66 %) fell into the moderate risk, with none in the high-risk category. At a dam in the Rhine River, TDGS up to 118 % were observed. Given the uncertainty due to limited data access and the prevalence of run-of-river plants in Austria and Germany, there remains an unclarified risk of TDGS generation in these countries, especially at spillways of dams and below aerated turbines. The results indicate a previously overlooked potential for the generation of biologically harmful TDGS at hydropower installations. It is recommended to systematically screen for TDGS at hydropower installations through risk assessment, monitoring, and, where needed, the implementation of mitigation measures. This is increasingly critical considering the expanding global initiatives in hydropower and efforts to maintain the ecological status of freshwater ecosystems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Martin Schletterer reports a relationship with TIWAG Tyrolean Hydropower that includes: employment. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The spread of pathogens from farmed salmon is a conservation concern for wild Pacific salmon in British Columbia (BC), Canada. Three pathogens are prevalent in farmed Atlantic salmon in BC, spill over to wild Pacific salmon, and are linked to negative impacts on wild salmon: Piscine orthoreovirus, Tenacibaculum spp., and sea lice ( Lepeophtheirus salmonis ). Molecular screening of infectious agents in farmed and wild salmon and environmental DNA highlights a further 4 agents that are likely elevated near salmon farms and 37 that co-occur in wild and farmed salmon. Pathogens likely affect wild salmon indirectly by mediating migration, competition, and predation. Current net-pen aquaculture practices pose these risks to numerous populations of all species of wild salmon in BC, most of which are not covered in Government of Canada science and advisory reports. Climate change, pathogen evolution, and changes to disease management and aquaculture regulations will influence future risks.

Purpose: To perform an extensive investigation of the clinical features and long-term complications among the n = 134 adults and children with nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) verified SARS-CoV-2-infection in the immunologically naïve population of Ulvik, Norway, during the single variant B.1.1.7 outbreak in late January through February 2021., Methods: Every infected person regardless of whether symptoms of COVID-19 were present was invited to answer a web-based questionnaire at two- and seven months after testing positive. The period from initial infection to the first questionnaire was assessed retrospectively, and the time points at two- and seven months were assessed prospectively., Results: A total of 87 of 134 (65%) NAAT-positive persons answered the first questionnaire, of which 35/87 (40%) were children, and 74 of 87 (85%) answered the second questionnaire. Children experienced symptoms less often than adults during the acute phase of infection (51% (18/35) versus 81% (42/52) (p = .004)). At two-months follow-up 88% (53/60) of participants with symptoms during the acute phase, including all children, reported no longer having symptoms. Among those with persisting symptoms at seven months, fatigue (18/25) and insomnia (16/24) were common., Conclusion: In an immunologically naïve population infected with the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant, the clinical features of acute phase symptoms were similar to previous studies. Children underwent asymptomatic infection more often than adults, and adults more often experienced persisting symptoms. Insomnia and fatigue were common complaints among those with persisting symptoms seven months after infection., (© 2024. The Author(s).)