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Background: In recent years, fighting arts (e.g., Karate, Judo, Jujitsu, Boxe) have gained broader attention due to their multiple benefits, involving both physical and psychological enhancements for practitioners. Despite that, studies revolving around specific psychological characteristics such as personality traits are scarce. This study explored potential connections between the personality tr
BACKGROUND: Substance use among school-going adolescents increases the risk of developing mental disorders, addiction, and substance use disorders. These may lead to poor academic performance and reduced productivity, which affects adolescent lives. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of substance use and associated factors among secondary school adolescents in the Kilimanjaro region, nort
Background: In 10–15% of children with esophageal atresia (EA) delayed reconstruction of esophageal atresia (DREA) is necessary due to long-gap EA and/or prematurity/low birth weight. They represent a patient subgroup with high risk of complications. We aimed to evaluate postoperative morbidity and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a Swedish national cohort of children with DREA. Methods:
Efforts to manage air pollution problems caused by motorized transport in developing countries have frequently failed due to a lack of air quality data, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Air quality data from sparse monitoring stations is typically insufficient for spatial modelling, which is required for understanding and managing air quality conditions. This study aimed at assessing the emp
Aims/hypothesis: The aim of this study was to determine whether BMI in early childhood was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and containment measures, and whether it was associated with the risk for islet autoimmunity. Methods: Between February 2018 and May 2023, data on BMI and islet autoimmunity were collected from 1050 children enrolled in the Primary Oral Insulin Trial, aged from 4.0 months to
Background: The etiology of giant cell arteritis (GCA) and its predictors are incompletely understood. Previous studies have indicated reduced risk of future development of GCA in individuals with obesity and/or diabetes mellitus. There is limited information on blood lipids before the onset of GCA. The objective of the study was to investigate the relation between apolipoprotein levels and future
Background: To identify subjects with rupture-prone atherosclerotic plaques before thrombotic events occur is an unmet clinical need. Thus, this proof-of-concept study aims to determine which rupture-prone plaque features can be detected using clinically available photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT). Methods: In this retrospective study, advanced atherosclerotic plaques (ex vivo, paraffin-e
BACKGROUND: Children with suspected ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) may present with a paradoxical ipsilateral supranormal differential renal function (snDRF) on 99mTechnetium mercaptoacetyltriglycine scintigraphy (MAG3 scan). OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the prevalence of snDRF, the risk of pyeloplasty among children with UPJO and snDRF, and to explore the experience of snDRF
BackgroundA specific eHealth device, a surf tablet, was developed for bridging between advanced in-hospital care and children’s homes. Since little is known about determinators for parental eHealth usage, the study’s aim was to explore if parents’ usage of the device was associated with their eHealth literacy, or their satisfaction with their child’s healthcare or with the specific surf tablet.Met
Objectives To investigate factors associated with severe COVID-19 in people with psoriasis (PsO), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Methods Demographic data, clinical characteristics and COVID-19 outcome severity of adults with PsO, PsA and axSpA were obtained from two international physician-reported registries. A three-point ordinal COVID-19 severity scale was define
OBJECTIVES: The aim included investigation of the associations between sedentary (SED), low-intensity physical activity (LIPA), moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA) and the prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis in both coronaries and carotids and the estimated difference in prevalence by theoretical reallocation of time in different PA behaviours.DESIGN: Cross-sectional.SETTING: Multisite
In this thesis, we address three main security problems related to cryptography andcloud storage. To tackle the challenge posed by a quantum computer, we needencryption that is resistant to quantum computers. This category of cryptographyis called post-quantum cryptography. In the first paper, we solve a challengein one of the lattice-based cryptographic protocols called Nth-degree Truncatedpolyno
Context. White-light stellar flares are proxies for some of the most energetic types of flares, but their triggering mechanism is still poorly understood. As they are associated with strong X and ultraviolet emission, their study is particularly relevant to estimate the amount of high-energy irradiation onto the atmospheres of exoplanets, especially those in their stars’ habitable zone. Aims. We u
Background: International guidelines recommend placement of intrauterine devices immediately after second-trimester medical abortion, but evidence concerning the optimal time for intrauterine device placement is lacking from clinical trials. Objective: This study aimed to investigate effectiveness, safety, and acceptability of intrauterine device placement within 48 hours, compared with placement
Objective Survival in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains poor. Most patients are diagnosed in late stages. Early diagnosis increases the chance of survival. We used the proximity extension assay from Olink Proteomics to search for new protein biomarkers with the potential to improve the diagnostic performance of CA125 and HE4 in patients with ovarian tumors. Material and methods Plasma sample
Traditionally, automatic control techniques arose due to need for automation in mechanical systems. These techniques rely on robust mathematical modelling of physical systems with the goal to drive their behaviour to desired set-points. Decades of research have successfully automated, optimized, and ensured safety of a wide variety of mechanical systems. Recent advancement in digital technology ha
Introduction: Vectorcardiography, or 3-dimensional electrocardiography is a tool which can be used to identify subtle changes in the electrical forces of the heart, and which can be applied to atrial depolarization, ventricular depolarization and ventricular repolarization for prognostic and diagostic purposes. Methods: Kor’s regression-related and quasi orthogonal methods was used to derive vect
BackgroundRight ventricular (RV) function is a major determinant of outcome in patients with pulmonary hypertension. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is gold standard to assess RV ejection fraction (RVEFCMR), however this is a crude measure. New CMR measures of RV function beyond RVEFCMR have emerged, such as RV lateral atrio-ventricular plane displacement (AVPDlat), maximum emptying velocity (S’C
Background: Limiting tidal volume (VT), plateau pressure, and driving pressure is essential during the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), but may be challenging when brain injury coexists due to the risk of hypercapnia. Because lowering dead space enhances CO2 clearance, we conducted a study to determine whether and to what extent replacing heat and moisture exchangers (HME) with heated h
This thesis focuses on describing the concept of creative activities as intervention (CaI) and the occupational values experienced in doing CaI. Creative activities are frequently used as interventions in occupational therapy and are associated with subjective health and wellbeing. There is a lack of clarity in the definitions of the concept and there is no research presented regarding the experie
