bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psoriasisartritt
Authors: Madland Tor Magne
Published: May 2016

Psoriasisartritt (PsA) er betegnelsen på en kronisk artrittsykdom som kan oppstå hos personer med psoriasis. Det er den nest hyppigste leddgiktssykdom i befolkningen, etter revmatoid artritt (RA), og prevalens hos voksne er estimert til 0,1-0,2%. I artikkelen gis en kort beskrivelse av sykdomskarakteristika, klassifikasjon og behandling, mens hovedfokus er sykdommens epidemiologi i nordiske land. I tillegg til søk i PubMed bygger artikkelen på resultater fra egen undersøkelse.
Epidemiologi av urinsyregikt
Authors: Skomsvoll Johan F. , Rødevand Erik
Published: May 2016

Gout is more prevalent in men than in women. However, there is a reduction in the difference in prevalence between men and women after menopause. The incidence is low in young age, but increases with increasing age, particularly after the age of 50. The risk of gout attack is to some extent dependent on the level of the serum concentration of urate. In the last decades the prevalence of gout has increased substantially, probably due to increase in the proportion of people with overweigth, disease promoting lifestyle changes, metabolic syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Hypeuricemia inducing drugs may also play a role. Drugs may play an important role in the treatment of the acute gout attacks. However, changes in lifestyle and diet are important prophylactic efforts. High levels of serum urate may be a risk factor for the development of CVD, but at the moment it is not explored whether the serum urate level is a marker or an independent contributor to the morbidity and mortality of CVD.
Epidemiology of ANCA associated vasculitis
Authors: Koldingsnes Wenche , Nossent Hans C.
Published: May 2016

ANCA associated vasculitis (AAV) comprises three syndromes with systemic vasculitis (Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG), Churg Strauss syndrome (CSS) and icroscopic polyangiitis (MPA)), which all involve small and medium sized vessels and are associated with antibodies against cytoplasmatic antibodies in neutrophils (ANCA). Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is included in this review as it also affects medium sized vessels, and has many clinical findings in common with the AAV.Since the recognition of ANCA, increasing data have become available on the epidemiology of these vasculitidis. WG constitutes half of the AAV and its prevalence has increased from 30/million in the late 1980’s in the USA to 160/million in this century in northern Europe. The prevalence for the whole group of primary systemic vasculitides is now 300/million in Sweden. The annual incidence of WG increased from 6.0/million to 14/million during the 1990’s in Tromsø, but it is unknown if this is a true increase or the result of an increased awareness of the diagnosis. For the whole group of AAV, the annual incidence in most more recent studies is relatively constant over time and by geographical location, ranging from 13 to 21/million. Nonetheless there are interesting differences in the prevalence of specific vasculitis between different geographical areas, as well as for sub specificities of ANCA.There seems to be a South-North gradient for WG and PR3-ANCA with high figures reported from northern Europe and southern New Zealand. In European studies WG is 90% PR3-ANCA positive. MPA which is predominantly MPO-ANCA associated are more frequent in the Mediterranean countries and also has an increasing gradient towards east-Asia, as almost all AAV in China and Japan are diagnosed as MPA, predominantly MPO-ANCA positive.There are also some ethnic and gender differences. WG is most prevalent among Caucasians in the USA and in people with European ancestors in Paris and in New Zealand, less frequent in Africans and Asians. Several studies have shown that the highest incidence of WG is in males 60-70 years old. Females are younger at onset, and in children WG is most frequent in girls. With better treatment (cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids), the survival of AAV has increased considerably. However disease control is not optimal, as most of the vasculitis present a remitting-relapsing course and organ damage is considerable. Hence, we are still looking to improve treatment regimens
Sjögrens syndrom
Authors: Brun Johan G. , Jonsson Roland
Published: May 2016

Diagnoser av Down syndrom registrert i Medisinsk fødselsregister (MFR) er sammenholdt med diagnoser registrert i stønadsregistrene i Ny arbeids- og velferdsetat (NAV), tidligere Rikstrygdeverket for alle levendefødte i årene 1967-76, i alt 629 928. Formålet med studien har vært å vurdere hvor ofte diagnosen Down syndrom registreres i MFR i forhold til forekomsten av tilstanden og validiteten av diagnosene, og å følge opp sannsynlige tilfeller av Down syndrom til ung voksen alder i forhold til overlevelse, utdanning, arbeidsaktivitet, uførepensjonering og familiedannelse. Oppfølgingen er muliggjort ved registerkoblinger, godkjent av Datatilsynet og utført av Statistisk sentralbyrå. Totalt var diagnosen Down syndrom registrert i 784 tilfeller, 1,25 per 1000 levendefødte, noe høyere for gutter, 1,31, enn for piker 1,19. Falske positive i MFR utgjorde 4,9 prosent mens falske negative er anslått til 27,8 prosent. Det vil si at 72,2 prosent av Down syndrom tilfellene blir diagnostisert ved fødsel og registrert i MFR. Dette anslag er beheftet med atskillig usikkerhet. Usikkerheten skyldes omfanget av fosterindisert abort, uensartet diagnostikk, varierende meldefrekvens og mangelfull registrering. Å redusere usikkerheten ville kreve systematisk tilgang til relevante helseregistre og at helsevesenets samlede kunnskap om personer med definerte lidelser kan innhentes løpende. Personvern, slik dette forståes og praktiseres i dag, vil sannsynligvis hindre en slik løsning. En systematisk oppfølging er imidlertid viktig for velferden for utsatte grupper i vårt samfunn. I foreliggende undersøkelse kan det dokumenteres at personer med Down syndrom ikke oppnår den arbeidsaktivitet som utdanningen de har gjennomført skulle tilsi. At noen få tilfeller ikke synes å være uførepensjonert før 30-års alderen kan også være et interessant funn. En avklaring på dette forhold kunne gi nyttig informasjon for velferdsarbeidet for personer med Down syndrom
Idiopatiske inflammatoriske myopatier (IIM)
Authors: Andersson Helena
Published: May 2016

Inflammatoriske muskelsykdommer er en heterogen gruppe av sykdommer der man i dag inkluderer polymyositt (PM), dermatomyositt (DM) og inklusjonslegememyositt (IBM). IBM er den hyppigste forekommende hos personer > 50 år med en prevalens på 39,5/million i denne aldersgruppen. Insidens av PM/DM er beregnet til 2-10/million med en prevalens på 11/100.000. Spesielt PM og DM kan ha andre organmanifestasjoner der eksempelvis interstitiell lungesykdom kan gi alvorlig sykdom med økt morbiditet og mortalitet. Økt cancer-risiko er påvist spesielt hos DM, evt PM men ikke hos IBM. I den senere tid har man identifisert nye kliniske fenotyper av PM og DM, spesielt gjennom myosittspesifikke antistoff. Noen av disse kan brukes som markører for prognose og sykdomsaktivitet. Det er ønskelig med enhetlig internasjonalklassifikasjon som også omfatter myosittspesifikke antistoff til å utføre nye epidemiologiske/kliniske studier og dermed øke kunnskapen om disse sykdommeneIdiopathic inflammatory myopathies comprehense a group of heterogenous diseases including polymyositis (PM), dermatomyositis (DM) and inclusion body myositis (IBM). The most common disease in persons > 50 years is IBM. The prevalence of IBM in this particular age-group is 39.5/million. The incidence of PM/DM is 2-10/ million, and the prevalence 11/100,000. Other organ manifestations could be present in IIM, specially in PM and DM. One example is interstitial lung disease which often lead to increased morbidity and mortality. In particular DM has an increased risk of cancer, probably also PM, but not IBM. In recent years identification of new clinical phenotypes of PM/DM has been made, mostly by myositisspecific antibodies. Some of these can be used as markers of prognosis and disease activity. For futureepidemiological and clinical studies, which can increase our knowledge of these diseases, a unified, international classification that also include myositis-specific antibodies is highly warranted.
Juvenile idiopatiske inflammatoriske myopatier
Authors: Sanner Helga
Published: May 2016

Juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (JIIM) is a group of rare autoimmune systemic diseases in children and adolescents, characterized by chronic skeletal muscle inflammation. Unlike in adults, dermatomyositis (JDM) is by far the most common of the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies in children and adolescents. The hallmark of JDM is calcinosis, lipodystrophy and vasculitis, findings that differs the juvenile form of dermatomyosits from the adult form. JDM is still diagnosed and classified by Bohan and Peter’s criteria from 1975. There are limited data on long time outcome of this disease
Epidemiologi ved juvenil systemisk lupus erythematosus
Authors: Vinje Odd , Flatø Berit
Published: May 2016

We have previously described the impact of Apgar scores on later major and minor disabilities. According to these and other studies, children with low Apgar scores have to show symptoms of neonatal encephalopathy in the first week of life to be at risk of developing later disabilities. Information on neonatal encephalopathy has traditionally been less accessible than Apgar scores in The Medical Birth Registry of Norway (MBRN). In the present study the possibility of extracting information on neonatal encephalopathy from the new notification form to the MBRN, which was introduced in late 1998, was investigated. The introduction of specific and generally accepted definitions of neonatal diagnoses combined with more comprehensive reports to MBRN from the neonatal departments may render registry based studies on neonatal encephalopathy possible in the future
Epidemiologi ved sklerodermi hos barn
Authors: Vinje Odd , Flatø Berit
Published: May 2016

Localized scleroderma is an infrequent disease in children, but still ten times more frequent than systemic sclerosis. The incidence is probably 5-10/100,000 per year. The disease is classified into five subgroups. Paediatric rheumatologists report linear scleroderma as the most frequent subgroup whereas plaque morphea is found most frequently by dermatologists, linear scleroderma being in second place. The risk of transforming into systemic sclerosis is minimal. The mortality risk is not found increased compared with the normal population. Systemic sclerosis is the most infrequent systemic connective tissue disease in children, the incidence is less than 1/1,000,000 per year. The outcome in children is considered to be generally better than in adults. However, deaths is caused most frequently by heart failure with or without pulmonal hypertension, but also by renal or respiratory insuffiency, CNS disease and sepsis. Cumulative survival after 5, 10, 15 and 20 years of disease is reported to be 89%, 80%, 74% and 69%. For the age group less than 16 years the median age of death is reported to be 10.4 years, range 5 to 15 years. The disease in the children who die is often rapidly progressing with early involvement of internal organs.
Evaluering av medisinsk behandling: Hva vet vi, og hvordan bør kunnskapen håndteres?
Authors: Bjordal Jan Magnus , Klovning Atle , Slørdal Lars
Published: May 2016

Data on the effects of medical therapies are available from clinical studies. Well planned and executed randomised, placebo-controlled studies are given the highest level of evidence when study results are reviewed. The available body of data on different therapies lend themselves to synthesis in clinical overviews or therapy recommendations that regularly achieve status as normative for clinical practice. This warrants caution and rigour as far as the underlying procedures are concerned. The current review encompasses a brief discussion of previous failures of pharmacovigilance, including the thalidomide disaster and the COX-2 debacle. The quality criteria for data evaluation and the methodological basis for meta-analyses are presented. Possible sources of error in meta-analyses, such as different reporting of effects, publication bias, heterogeneity, conflicts of interest and problems with evaluation of side effects, are discussed. The advantages of meta-analysis are exemplified with data on therapy of lower back pain, which recently has been subjected to clinical practice guidelines that, in our view, have several shortcomings. Meta-analyses have significant advantages over less formalised methods for the evaluation of the current state of knowledge of therapeutic alternatives.
The Janus face of polypharmacy – overuse versus underuse of medication
Authors: Viktil Kirsten K. , Blix Hege Salvesen , Reikvam Åsmund
Published: May 2016

As modern guidelines may recommend several drugs for a single medical condition, it follows that many patients, especially if co-morbidity is present, use a number of medications. Also, an aging population implies more morbidity and consequently will have the result that many patients use many drugs – a situation often referred to as polypharmacy. Polypharmacy has been linked to negative health outcomes such as adverse drug reactions, interaction problems, poor patient adherence, and hospitalisations. Such experiences have led to the attitude that efforts should be made to reduce polypharmacy. However, this approach might prevent patients from obtaining optimal treatment. There is no universal definition of polypharmacy and measuring of a reduction in polypharmacy becomes problematic. Because polypharmacy is an imprecise term it should be used with caution in research as well as in patient management. Moreover, studies have shown that undertreatment occurs frequently also among patients using many drugs. This is the Janus face of polypharmacy: too many drugs should be avoided, but the individual patient should receive the appropriate drugs that have the potential to reduce morbidity and improve quality of life. It is the individual drugs themselves, along with patient specific factors, and not a fixed number of drugs, that we should pay attention to.
Veitrafikkulykker knyttet til forskrivning av legemidler:En registerbasert kohortstudie,
Authors: Engeland Anders , Bramness Jørgen G. , Mørland Jørg , Skurtveit Svetlana
Published: May 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the risk of being involved in road traffic accidents as drivers among persons using prescribed medicines by utilizing data from population-based registries. The aim of the present paper was to focus on the methodology used in the study. Methods: All Norwegians aged 18-69 in April 2004 to September 2006 (3.1 million), were included in the study. Information on prescriptions, road accidents and emigrations/deaths was obtained from three different population-based registries. A total of 22,000 accidents were observed. The incidence of accidents in exposed and unexposed person-time was compared, by the standardized incidence ratio (SIR). Results: The risk of being involved in an accident was increased in persons exposed for prescribed medicines. The risk was markedly increased in persons exposed for natural opium alkaloids, benzodiazepine tranquillizers, benzodiazepine hypnotics and carisoprodol. A marginal increase or unchanged SIRs were found for NSAIDs, selective beta-2-adrenoreceptor agonists (anti-asthmatics), calcium receptor antagonists and penicillin. Conclusions: We have tested a method using different reference groups and different exposure periods to explore the association between drug use and involvement in traffic accidents. Using these methods, we have shown that exposure for prescribed opiates, benzodiazepines and carisoprodol increased the risk of being involved in an accident as driver. The findings confirm results from other studies. Further steps should be taken to reduce car driving under the influence of these drugs.
Evaluation of prescribing quality in nursing homes based on drug-specific indicators: The Bergen district nursing home (BEDNURS) study
Authors: Ruths Sabine
Published: May 2016

To examine prescribing quality among nursing home patients. Methods: A cross sectional study in 23 nursing homes, based on drug charts. The evaluation of prescribing quality was based on selected drug-specific indicators established by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations between prescribing indicators and predictors related to patient (age, gender, drug number) and institution (nurse and physician staff time) characteristics. Results: A total of 1513 nursing home patients (76% women, mean age 85 years) were included in the study. On average, the patients used 5.1 (SD 2.5) standing medications. Laxatives were most commonly used (58%), followed by loop-diuretics (35%), antidepressants (31%), and anti-thrombotic agents (27%). Altogether 850 (56%) patients used at least one potentially inappropriate prescription (PIP), including long-term use of contact laxatives without proper indication (25%), long-acting benzodiazepines (17%), and anticholinergic drugs (16%). The number of drugs used was the most important determinant for any PIP as well as for all individual indicators (p
The use of 3D ultrasound to investigate fetal bone development
Authors: Mahon Pamela A. , Cooper Cyrus , Crozier Sarah R. , Godfrey Keith M.
Published: May 2016

Epidemiological studies suggest impaired fetal skeletal development has lifelong consequences for bone health. To examine the feasibility of using 3-dimensional ultrasound (3DUS) to investigate influences on fetal femur development, we obtained volume datasets of the uppermost fetal thigh at 19 and 34 weeks gestation in 517 women in a population-based survey of maternal nutrition. In addition to the standard measure of femur length, we derived femoral cross-sectional areas and volume from the volume datasets. Coefficients of variation for intra-operator variability in femur length were 0.6% at 19 weeks and 0.4% at 34 weeks; corresponding coefficients of variation for distal femoral cross-sectional area were 4.4% at 19 weeks and 3.2% at 34 weeks, showing greater measurement variability with a more complex technique. Intra-operator variability for femur volume measurement triplets at 19 and 34 weeks was 3.4% and 1.7%, respectively. The coefficients of variation of replicate measurements were compared with the between-subjects variation as a measure of the biological variability between fetuses: at 19 weeks between-subjects variation was 7.2% for femur length, 19.6% for distal cross-sectional area and 19.9% for femur volume. These results show a wide range of variation between subjects, which is substantially greater than the intra-operator variability. This suggests that the measurements of fetal femur size and volume are reproducible and can be used to examine biological differences between subjects, and we found that femoral volume was greater in male fetuses at 19 weeks gestation. Thus 3DUS presents a useful technique for assessing fetal skeletal development in cohort studies
Psykiske og hormonelle reaksjoner i svangerskapet relatert til funn av utviklingsavvik hos fosteret
Authors: Kaasen Anne , Haugen Guttorm
Published: May 2016

Detection of a fetal anomaly leads to considerable psychological distress for the pregnant woman and her partner. The relation between psychological and endocrine reactions to stress is relatively well understood in non-pregnant women. This knowledge is not necessarily transferable to the situation during pregnancy because pregnancy itself causes alterations in the maternal hormone balance. We are studying the relation between psychological and endocrine stress responses in pregnancies following the detection of fetal anomalies by ultrasonography
Redaktørens spalte
Authors: - -
Published: May 2016

Trond Peder Flaten
Eksempler på bruk av koblinger mellom helseundersøkelser og FD-trygd for forskning under den trygdemedisinske modellen, attraksjonsmodellen og utstøtningsmodellen
Authors: Mykletun Arnstein , Øverland Simon
Published: May 2016

Vi har i løpet av de siste fem årene jobbet med datakoblinger mellom Helseundersøkelsene i Hordaland (HUSK, 1997-99) og Nord-Trøndelag (HUNT, 1984-86, 1995-97, 2006-08) til FD-trygd (fra 1992). Ved kombinasjoner av helseundersøkelser og FD-trygd kan epidemiologiske studier med tverrsnittsdesign, prospektive design eller retrospektive design gjennomføres. Det eksisterer imidlertid utfordringer både formelt og datateknisk ved etablering av slike koblinger. Vi har erfart at koblingene er anvendelige for forskning på årsaker til uføretrygd, og at vi treffer et internasjonalt publikum med publikasjoner basert på disse data. I det følgende vil det bli gitt noen eksempler på hvordan disse dataressursene kan utnyttes i studier av årsaker til arbeidsuførhet i henhold til den trygdemedisinske modellen, attraksjonsmodellen og utstøtningsmodellen. Mykletun A, Øverland S. Examples of uses of linkages between health surveys and FD-trygd for research using medical models and theoretical push and pull models. Nor J Epidemiol 2009; 19 (2): 127-137. ENGLISH SUMMARYOver the last five years, we have employed data from the Hordaland Health Study (HUSK, 1997-99) and the Nord-Trøndelag Health Studies (HUNT, 1984-86, 1995-97, 2006-08) in linkage with national registries of disability benefits (FD-trygd, running from 1992). The combination of these resources, allows studies using cross-sectional, prospective or retrospective designs. The establishing of these combined datasets involves numerous formal and technical challenges, but the resulting data are useful in disability benefit research and publications employing them have been welcomed by an international readership. In the following, we will provide examples of how these data can be used to broaden our understanding of disability benefits in perspectives of the medical model, as well as theoretical push,- and pull models.
Evaluering av tiltak for å redusere sykefravær
Authors: Lie Stein Atle
Published: May 2016

Evaluering av tiltak for å redusere sykefravær er nødvendig. Men hvorledes skal man måle effekten av et tiltak, hvilke undersøkelsesmetodikk og studiedesign skal man benytte og hvilke statistiske metoder skal anvendes? Ulike forsøksdesign gir ulik informasjon og kvalitet av informasjon, og dette bør settes i et perspektiv før man analyserer og tolker resultat fra tilgjengelige data. Denne artikkelen diskuterer ulike forsøksdesign delvis basert på kunnskapsbaserte metoder. Videre diskuteres hva som finnes av tilgjengelige data for sykefravær og hvilket perspektiv disse dataene kan settes i, i forhold til de ulike studiedesign. Avhengig av hvorledes et utfall (for eksempel tilbake til arbeid) er operasjonalisert er det ulike statistiske metoder som er naturlig for de tilgjengelige dataene og dette settes inn i perspektivet. Sist argumenteres det for å benytte betraktninger og metodikk fra utvidede forløpsanalyser i flertilstandsmodeller (multi-state modeller). Ved flertilstandsmodeller kan man videre utnytte en større del av dataene man har tilgjengelig i evaluering av et tiltak for å redusere sykefravær eller effekten av rehabiliteringstiltak.
Coping and return to work: Measurement and theoretical issues
Authors: Odéen Magnus , Kristensen Lars Ole , Ursin Holger
Published: May 2016

Sick leave and early departure from the workforce have serious adverse effects on both individuals and society. Motivation and coping are both important when attempting to return to work. In this article, we wanted to test if either of two coping instruments could predict return to work. Response outcome expectancies as defined in the Cognitive Activation Theory of Stress (CATS) (Ursin & Eriksen, 2004) were measured by the CODE scale (Eriksen et al., 1997) and general self-efficacy was measured by the generalized self-efficacy scale (GSE) (Schwarzer & Jerusalem, 1995). The instruments were tested in one group of rehabilitation patients (N= 135) and one group of disability pensioners (N=85), who participated in return to work interventions in randomised controlled trials. None of the instruments could predict return to work at any point of measurement. Less than 10% of the theoretical range of the scales was used. The scales appear to measure a concept that is more stable than their underlying theory predicts, and they can not predict an important outcome. Results indicate that caution is advised when making inferences from  these instruments to their underlying theories.
Social inequalities in use of potentially addictive drugs in Norway – use among disability pensioners
Authors: Hartz Ingeborg , Tverdal Aage , Skurtveit Svetlana
Published: May 2016

Objectives: The Norwegian Government urges that actions are needed to stimulate the working capacity in disability pensioners (DPs) with such a potential. Information on factors that may impair rehabilitation efforts, including use of potentially addictive drugs, may be useful in this context. Thus, the aim was to study the association between DP on initiation as well as long-term use of benzodiazepines (BZDs), and to describe aspects of problematic use of BZDs in terms of: long-term use pattern, including escalation of dose over time, and use of other potentially addictive drugs.Methods: We followed a cohort of 8,942 men and 10,578 women aged 40, 45, 60 years (non-users of BZDs at baseline), who participated in health surveys in 2000-01 in three Norwegian counties, with respect to use of BZDs, and other potentially addictive drugs, by linkage to the Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD) for 2004-2007. Information on DP status was retrieved from Statistics Norway.Results: Incident BZD use was highest among female DPs; 18-20% compared to 5-8% of the non-DPs. Multivariable analyses revealed an independent effect of DP on incident (OR 1.6 (95% CI 1.4-2.0)) and long-term use (OR 2.47 (95% CI 1.90-3.20)) of BZDs. Among incident users, 51-60% of the DPs retrieved BZDs throughout the period 2004-07, as compared to 32-33% of the non-DPs. The annual median defined daily doses (DDDs) of BZDs among long-term users increased throughout the period 2004-07, most pronounced in the youngest DPs; from 50 (interquartile range (IQR) 14,140) DDD to 205 (IQR 25,352) DDD.Conclusions: The chance of being prescribed BZDs as well as becoming a long-term user was higher among DPs. High continuation rates, with a steadily increasing annual amount of use among the long term users may reflect an unfavourable use pattern of potentially addictive drugs among DPs, most worrisome among the youngest.
Innhold
Authors: - -
Published: May 2016

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Innledning
Authors: - -
Published: May 2016

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Supportive and motivating environments in school: Main factors to make well-being and learning a reality
Authors: Danielsen Anne G.
Published: May 2016

The author examined the relationships between (i) school-related social support from parents, teachers, and classmates, respectively, and students’ perceived life satisfaction; and (ii) school-related social support from teachers and classmates and self-reported academic initiative. The analyses were based on data from nationally representative samples of 13- and 15-year-old students from the Norwegian part of the sixth and seventh World Health Organization (WHO) international survey of Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC). The Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analyzing approach was employed. The findings indicate that school-related social support is positively related to students’ perceived life satisfaction and self-reported academic initiative. In two-level SEM analysis, a latent factor comprising pedagogical caring and autonomy support was substantially related to self-reported academic initiative at the class level.
Health-related benefits among children in the child welfare system: prevalence and determinants of basic and/or attendance benefits
Authors: Zewdu Abreham Mengesha
Published: May 2016

Objective: To examine the prevalence and determinants of basic and/or attendance benefits among children involved with the child welfare system (CWS).Design: A register study of all children involved with CWS in Norway from 1997-2006.Participants: 96,354 children from the CWS group and 149,030 children who had never been in the CWS as a comparison group.Results: 11% of children involved with CWS received basic and/or attendance benefits compared to 3% in the comparison group. In multivariate logistic regression, the boys’ chances of ever receiving basic and/or attendance benefits were greater than the girls’ chances. The chances of receiving benefits increased nearly four to sixfold as a child becomes older. However, they decrease as the age at debut to CWS increases. It was also revealed that those children who stayed under child welfare for two or more years had an increased chance of ever receiving basic and/or attendance benefits. For children with reported behavioral disorders, the chances of basic and/or attendance benefits were nearly twofold. For children under home-based support and medication interventions, the chances of receiving basic and/or attendance benefits were greater than for children who were not under these interventions.Conclusion: Chronic health conditions that claim basic and/or attendance benefits were more prevalent among children involved with CWS than the general children’s population. This phenomenon may be explained by gender, age, age at debut to CWS, length of stay under CWS, types and reasons for interventions
Patterns of screen-based sedentary behavior and physical activity and associations with overweight among Norwegian adolescents: a latent profile approach
Authors: Melkevik Ole , Torsheim Torbjørn , Rasmussen Mette
Published: May 2016

Background: Physical activity and screen based sedentary behaviors are both related to energy balance and to risk for becoming overweight. The aim of this study is to find out if these behaviors cluster together in order to find out whether groups of adolescents have particularly unfortunate levels of both physical activity and screen-based sedentary behaviors. Methods: Data are from the Norwegian 2005/2006 sample of the international "Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study; A WHO cross-National Survey". Data were collected through questionnaires from 13-, 15- and 16-year-olds. The final sample included 4848 adolescents. Gender-stratified latent profile analysis was used to identify the different profiles. Results: Six profiles were identified for both boys and girls. Less than 30% of adolescents were found to have behavioral patterns which were associated with higher risk for overweight relative to the most healthy behavioral profile. Physical activity and screen-based sedentary behaviors cluster together in different ways suggesting independence between the behaviors. Low levels of physical activity was the most important predictor for overweight among boys. Screen-based sedentary behaviors were more important predictors of overweight among girls. Conclusions: Physical activity and screen-based sedentary behaviors are independent behaviors and may cluster together in manners which lead to low energy expenditure and subsequent increased risk for overweight among adolescents.
Environmental epidemiology / Miljøepidemiologi
Authors: Bjertness Espen
Published: May 2016

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Epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases / Hjerte-kar epidemiologi
Authors: Bjertness Espen
Published: May 2016

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Epidemiology of asthma / Astmaepidemiologi
Authors: Bjertness Espen
Published: May 2016

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Why Do Saudi High Schools’ Graduates Enroll in the Colleges of Technology: A Case Study?
Authors: Trabelsi Ali Chedli , Bezzina Smain
Published: May 2016

The paper aims at elaborating a strategy regarding students’ admission at the colleges of technology in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Purposely, the study surveys the opinion of the students attending the Jeddah College of Technology (J.C.T) and reports on seven socio-economic factors, specifically, the J.C.T. evaluation system, the high school G.P.A, the training period, the trainee “gut feel”, the scholarship, the professional project at graduation and the family financial support. A proportionate stratified random sample of 340 students has been drawn and asked to rate the influence of each factor upon their decision making prior enrolling the J.C.T. The sample has managed students who emanate from 11 sections (sub-strata) and four independent Depts., Management & Tourism, Mechanical Technology, Electrical Technology and Civil & Architecture. As we seek to ascertain different factors weights on the students’ decision making, the study has considered three major pooling schemes (strata), i) as per Depts., ii) as per seniority at the J.C.T, iii) and, as per the living location. For the pooling methods, one another, we investigated the correlation between the students’ decision making to enroll at the J.C.T. and each one of the study factors as cited beforehand. The Chi-square test is used to assess such a categorical association. Finally, a formal method was devised to determine the factors prevalence based on the Chi-square significance level and the number of the pooling schemes wherein the test has proven significant at 5% of significance level. The research findings have showed that the “high school G.P.A” and the “J.C.T evaluation system” factors are the most influential, orderly.
The Level of Satisfaction of Female Learning Disabilities’ Parents with Their Kids’ Integration in Regular Schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Abahusain Wedad A.
Published: May 2016

This study aims at finding out the parents’ level of satisfaction with the integration of their daughters with learning disabilities in regular schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study sample consisted of 283 parents of female students. The instrument of data collection was a questionnaire consisting of 59 items for 10 domains. The study results indicated that the services provided by the resources rooms in regular schools gained the highest parents’ satisfaction, followed by the services related to the means and methods used by the resources room’s teacher. However, the extracurricular services gained the lowest level of parents’ satisfaction. In light of the results of the current study, a number of pedagogical implications can be presented to decision makers to improve the resources room which leads to an increase of the satisfaction level of female learning disabilities’ parents with their kids’ integration in regular schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for International Education Studies, Vol. 9, No. 6
Authors: Lee Chris
Published: May 2016

Reviewer acknowledgements for International Education Studies, Vol. 9, No. 6, 2016.
Polarization, Inequality, and the State Legislatures
Authors: May David A. , Pirch Kevin A.
Published: May 2016

While legislative polarization at the national level has been carefully examined and largely explained, the causes of polarization in state legislatures have been more elusive. Studies examining factors such as gerrymandering and party primaries as possible explanations have found largely undetectable or at best very modest relationships between these variables and levels of polarization. This paper provides an explanation of state legislative polarization based on socio-economic and demographic factors within the states. Economics and demographics have long played a significant role in understanding party choice, vote choice, the decision to abstain or vote, and support for various policies. Because of this we explore if these factors also influence polarization of state legislatures. Utilizing the Shorr-McCarty polarization data for state legislatures, which provides the differences between the mean Democratic and Republican legislator scores, and controlling for important economic and demographic factors, we explain a significant amount of the polarization existing in state legislatures. These findings present a fascinating look into not only the root causes of polarization in state legislatures, but also point to some fundamental differences in politics and ideology at the state and national levels.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Journal of Politics and Law, Vol. 9, No. 4
Authors: Sheng Vivian
Published: May 2016

Reviewer acknowledgements for Journal of Politics and Law, Vol. 9, No. 4, 2016.
Altruistic and Anomic Suicide: A Durkheimian Analysis of Palestinian Suicide Bombers
Authors: Abu-Lughod Reem A. , Montoya Eduardo L.
Published: May 2016

In the past two decades, suicide terrorism in its different forms has become a popular topic of research and debate. It has contributed to a different sense of normalcy and regularity in various societies across the world given that suicide bombings are relatively inexpensive and effective, compared with other kinds of terrorist methods. This study primarily focuses on suicide bombings in the Palestinian/Israeli territories, an area that has experienced conflict and tension for over six decades. In doing so, the research study uses Durkheim’s typology of suicide as a theoretical framework to trace the history of suicide bombings in the Palestinian/Israeli territories, outline the characteristics of suicide bombers, their motivations, and how suicide bombings have been used as a form of resistance to occupation. The data collected cover suicide bombings that have occurred from April 1994 to February 2008. The research study uses logistic regression to examine the characteristics of the suicide bombers and their attacks. The results show, among other things, that the attacks possess elements of both altruistic and anomic types of suicide in the Durkheimian sense of the word.
The Comparative of Study Culpable Rights in Preliminary Investigation in Iran and Turkey
Authors: Mehrvand Mina , Afandak Khalil
Published: May 2016

The preliminary investigation to determine the fate of the victims and the defendants ' judicial rights of the victims and the criminal justice is of special importance. The preliminary investigation of the center of gravity of the interrogation of suspects. Considering the necessity of supporting the principle of presumed innocence and preserve human dignity in the hearing process, the main lines of the meanwhile defensive rights defendants at the stage of preliminary investigation determined. Examples of the rights of the defense and legal formalities and job maker Iran and Turkey in the interrogation system varied. However, what is the condition for this is that a fair hearing in accordance with the principles of this extension should be anticipated and mandated. The legal rights of the accused is guaranteed set in the level of national, regional or international, and with the aim of adopting a decision in a fair and judicial errors than to keep away from people who are offence, in order to be exposed to. Including these rights can be charge with its reasons, the right to have a lawyer, the right to silence, a prohibition of delay and procrastination in charge after arrest or summons, the right note, the right to health in statements against torture questioned. Meanwhile, In the system of criminal procedure if what legislator to some of the aforementioned rights in its rules on match point but the hearing system in Turkey, including in particular anticipating the unconditional right to have a lawyer, the right to prohibit the delay in charges and the right to an annulment of the flawed investigation and classified problems. Obviously fix the defects and its assignment to investigation compliance under the law is just and fair hearing flow will be extremely helpful.
Vietnam’s New Law on the Right of Parties to Choose Applicable Law in Civil Relations Involving Foreign Elements
Authors: Thu Phuong Tran Thi
Published: May 2016

In private international law, the right of the parties to choose law applicable has been acknowledged in most legal systems. However, the scope of this right of agreement varies according to the statutory regulations of each country. This paper clarifies the scope of right to agreement on applicable law of the parties, as well as the mechanism for controlling the application of law as agreed upon by the parties in private international law of Vietnam. This article also makes comparison with the law of some countries in the world in order to point out the differences between them and to make comments, assessments of the current statutory regulations of Vietnam on such issues.
Comparative Assessment of Local Farmers’ Perceptions of Meteorological Events and Adaptations Strategies: Two Case Studies in Niger Republic
Authors: Toukal Assoumana Boubacar , Ndiaye Mbaye , Der Puije Grace Van , Diourte Mamourou , Gaiser Thomas
Published: May 2016

Several studies on farmers’ perceptions on climate variability tend to provide bulked information at either regional or national level. Assessing the disparities of skills and the strategies of adaptations among farmers across locations could be the first step towards solutions in adaption to the climate variability and change. The objective of this paper was to assess and compare local farmers’ perceptions on meteorological events, adaptations and access to agricultural extension services in two agro-ecological zones, Diffa and Aguie, in Niger Republic. The results revealed that climate challenges are well distributed in both areas but, there are significant discrepancies in the perceived climate variabilities compared to meteorological observations. Respondents noted an increase in temperature which is in agreement with climatic data evidence. It was found that majority of respondents adopt crop diversification in the sense of mixed cropping as their major adaptation strategy to climate variability. However, the extent to which farmers perceived crop diversification as a climate change adaptation strategy is not a response to the subjectively perceived changes in weather patterns, but rather a traditional strategy to reduce risk and to adapt to the long-standing inter-annual and intra-annual rainfall variability in the area. The lack of sufficient educational knowledge, external support and access to information are the constraints that hindered farmers to adapt effectively and, this leads to low agricultural productivity. It is recommended to empower farmers with information, technological skills, access to heat resistant crop varieties that enable them to adapt to increasing maximum temperatures.
Sufism and Behavior of Maritime Economic Community (Case Study on Pakkaja Community in South Sulawesi)
Authors: Demmallino Eymal B. , S. Ali M. Saleh , Qadir Gassing Abd. , Lampe Munsi , Nalefo La , Busthanul Nurbaya , Ibrahim Tamzil
Published: May 2016

This research is motivated by a concern to the maritime community in Indonesia and South Sulawesi in particular, which is up to now still very behind compared with other communities on the mainland or degenerate far backward compared with the maritime community in the past royal era (eighth century ~ XVII century: Sriwidjaya, Majapahit, and Gowa~Makassar). This study aims to reveal the negative effect on classical Sufism of maritime community economic behavior, by taking the case to the Pakkaja Community. This study uses Verstehen method is done by "reversed burden of proof". The results showed that the backwardness of maritime community, in particular the Pakkaja Community is rooted in the mentality of weak intention characterized by low productivity, dependence excessively and consumptive lifestyles in their lives, is a negative deflection of classical Sufism, which stuck very strong since early Islamization of the archipelago and Bugis ~ Makassar in particular.
Implication of Environmental Certification and CSR for Companies’ Sustainable Performance in Developing Countries
Authors: Melykh Kateryna , Melykh Olga
Published: May 2016

This article presents a new approach to measuring level of social and ecological consciousness in developing countries based on the example ofUkraine. The paper documents a relationship between introduction of eco-certification and corporate social responsibility practices into companies’ daily activities, and the possible subsequent increase of their revenues, social reputation and competitiveness on international markets. Environmental certification will be also considered as a systematic tool to guarantee the quality of products, production and company’s business processes.

The research was conducted during 2014-2015 and has covered 35% of Ukrainian companies from various branches that had valid environmental certificates. Based on regional distribution, distribution according to the industry a company operates in, in this paper we explore correlation between implementation of eco-certificates and CSR and their influence on company’s performance.
The research is aimed to demonstrate how the introduction of green policy, environmental certification and corporate social responsibility influence company’s societal value, its reputation and competitiveness on the market, and whether it helps receive financial benefits in short- or long-term period.
The Tourism Development Strategy Based on Rural and Local Wisdom
Authors: Farhan Hamim , Anwar Khoirul
Published: May 2016

This article is about to discover the concept of rural tourism developmental strategies based on rural and local wisdom in the Island of Bawean in Gresik Regency. The research uses qualitative mrthod in which the mapping and inventory of primary data sources of rural based potential tourism with local wisdom are taken. The results show that the tourist potentialities among others are: (1) natural potencies of tourism which include Lake Kastoba, the Gili Island, the Cina Island, Noko Island, Nyimas Beach, Mayangkara Beach , Laccar waterfall, Pattar Selamat waterfall, Sangkapura hot spring; (2) Religion (historical) tourism potencies including Jherat lanjeng (Long Ceemetery), Siti Zaenab Waliyullah Cemetery, the Cemetery of Maulana Umar Mas'ud, Kercengan arts and culture, Mandailing arts and culture, and there is also Deer breeding of local type, typical culinary, woven mats made of pandan leaves and so much more. This research suggests that the regional Government of Gresik (Regional Tourism Agency) and Provincial Tourism Office of East Java have to promote their tourism potentials as a sustainable flagship program.
Uganda’s Revealed Comparative Advantage in COMESA
Authors: Katunze Miriam , Kuteesa Annette
Published: May 2016

Most recently, Uganda increased its trade engagements with COMESA as demonstrated by its submission of accession instruments to COMESA Secretariat in order to access the Free Trade Area (FTA). It is envisaged that trade with COMESA can compensate for the low export demand elsewhere by enabling diversification of the export basket and facilitating value addition to traditional exports. It is also expected to enhance producer competitiveness and consumer welfare. Full exploitation of this requires information on where and in what commodities Uganda’s trade niche lies. This study assesses the country competiveness within COMESA based on the concept of Revealed Comparative advantage (RCA). The paper also evaluates the stability of Uganda’s RCA in COMESA from 1997-2014 using HS6-digit level export and re-exports data obtained from the World Integrated Trade System. Findings reveal that Uganda’s RCA is in all 16 industries at the product chapter level. It is stable in exports of animals, vegetables, food production, wood, textiles, & cloth, stone & glass and metals. Policies for further development of these sectors should aim at addressing sectoral challenges including the low productivity, marketing, and processing capacity in the animal sector, low capacity to test phytosanitary and sanitary certification in the vegetable sector. Additionally, tackling market and low production challenges for the textile sector and, high costs of production for the metals sector will further boost exports to the region.