Sandvik (Norway)

Background and objectivesPersistent headache has emerged as a symptom following acute COVID-19 and, to a lesser extent, after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate plasma levels of amyloid-related biomarkers in patients experiencing persistent headaches after COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.MethodsIn this prospective observational cohort, patients presenting with severe headache as the dominating symptom after COVID-19 (n=29) or SARS-CoV-2 vaccination (n=31) had neurological assessments with reassessments after 6 months. Plasma levels of amyloid precursor protein (APP), pregnancy zone protein (PZP), cathepsin L1 (CTSL) and serum Amyloid A (SAA1) were measured using ELISA and compared with levels in healthy controls (n=16).ResultsWe found a strong and persistent upregulation of APP in patients with headache after COVID-19 as compared with the two other groups. Notably, APP levels remained elevated at both inclusion and after 6 months in individuals with accompanying cognitive symptoms. In contrast, PZP levels were increased in patients with headache after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination at both time points relative to healthy controls. CTSL was only elevated in the post-COVID-19 at baseline, whereas SAA1 showed levels comparable across all groups.ConclusionAltered plasma levels of soluble markers, potentially reflecting changes in amyloid processing, were found in patients with persistent headache following SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, particularly in those with persistent headache after COVID-19. In the latter group, we also found some association with cognitive symptoms.Trial registration numbersNCT04576351 and NCT05235776.

ABSTRACT With the objective of reducing its CO2 footprint and moving towards circularity by recovering influent phosphorus, Hias wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) has developed a novel biological removal process (the Hias Process) which combines enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) and moving bed biofilm reactor and is now operating at full scale. Additionally, a struvite reactor is installed to capture phosphorus from the resulting sludge. In this work, the performance of the WWTP and particularly the biological phosphorus removal process and struvite reactor is assessed with regards to circularity and recovery of phosphorus. The Hias Process demonstrates stability and effectiveness even in cold climates and during stormwater events. Introducing the Hias Process reduced the use of precipitation chemicals, leading to a lower carbon footprint. The combination of the Hias Process with subsequent struvite reactor contributes to increased phosphorus circularity. That is achieved through improved plant availability of phosphorus in biosolids and the production of struvite. Main factors affecting recovery of phosphorus are identified and include the use of precipitation metals, bypass of the EBPR, and temperature's impact on PO4 release from EBPR sludge. This study aligns with Sustainable Development Goals and emphasizes efficient phosphorus recovery through the Hias Process and struvite reactor.

Airway mucus is a major barrier to the delivery of lipid‐based nanoparticles in chronic airway diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF). Receptor‐Targeted Nanocomplexes (RTN), comprise mixtures of cationic lipids and bifunctional peptides with receptor‐targeting and nucleic acid packaging properties. The aim of this study is to improve the mucus‐penetrating properties of cationic siRNA and mRNA RTNs by combining them with low molecular weight alginate oligosaccharides, OligoG and OligoM. Cationic RTNs formulated with either alginate become strongly anionic, while PEGylated messenger RNA (mRNA) and short interfering RNA (siRNA) RTNs remain cationic. Both alginates enhance mucus diffusion rates of cationic siRNA and mRNA RTNs in a static mucus barrier diffusion model, with OligoG particularly effective. PEGylation also enhance mucus diffusion rates of siRNA RTNs but not mRNA RTNs. Electron microscopy shows that RTNs remained intact after mucosal transit. The transfection efficiency of OligoM‐coated mRNA RTNs is better than those coated with OligoG or PEG, and similar to cationic RTNs. In siRNA RTN transfections, OligoM is better than OligoG although 1% PEG is slightly better than both. The combination of cationic RTNs and alginate oligosaccharides represents a promising alternative to PEGylation for epithelial delivery of genetic therapies across the mucus barrier while retaining transfection efficiency.

Background and objectives: New onset persistent headache has been reported following acute COVID-19 and to some degree also after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. The mechanisms for these headache types are unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess levels of amyloid related biomarkers in patients with persistent headache after COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Methods: In this prospective observational cohort, patients with severe headache as the dominating symptom after COVID-19 (n=29) and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination (n=31), had neurological assessments with reassessments after 6 months. Plasma levels of amyloid precursor protein (APP), pregnancy zone protein (PZP), cathepsin L1 (CTSL) and serum Amyloid A (SAA1) were measured by ELISA in relation to levels in healthy controls (n=16). Results: We found a strong and persistent upregulation of APP in patients with headache after COVID-19 as compared to the two other groups. At both inclusion and after 6 months APP levels were also increased in those with accompanying cognitive symptoms. In contrast, plasma levels of PZP were elevated in patients with headache after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination at both inclusion and after 6 months as compared to healthy controls. CTSL was only elevated in those with COVID-19 associated as compared with those with vaccine associated headache at baseline, whereas SAA1 showed levels comparable in all groups. Conclusion: Altered plasma levels of soluble markers potentially reflecting changes in amyloid processing was found in patients with persistent headache after SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and particular in those with persistent headache after COVID-19 where we also found some association with cognitive symptoms.

Abstract The initiation of circular economy (CE) within the built environment is imperative to address the impact of climate change and to fulfil the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the public sector is a key factor in this. The ambition of this paper is to investigate monitoring approaches to circular initiatives in the municipal sector of the Nordic countries, and their potential for improvement. The study was conducted in two stages, the first stage being a preliminary mapping of the reuse practices in selected Norwegian municipalities, where interviews (N=8) and site visits were conducted. These piloting interviews gave the basis for an extension of the mapping, including other Nordic municipalities and the research design. In the second stage, semi-structured in-depth interviews of key actors (N=20) in Nordic municipalities were carried out, along with renewed site visits and unstructured interviews (N=10). While several municipalities have implemented CE systems, there are significant discrepancies in the approach. It varies between using public procurements as a key measure to simulate the stakeholders in the built environment to initiate internal systems. The differences are less variable within the countries, likely due to frequent communication and easy availability. Recommendations and ways forward for the municipalities are provided. Municipalities should establish standardization of reuse mapping. The paper emphasizes the importance of setting requirements to facilitate a circular value chain. By implementing chosen measures and monitoring systems it will improve the understanding of circular economy, enable process tracking and unlock the potential of CE initiatives in municipalities.

I study the effect of algorithmic trading on market efficiency, taking into account past market and limit order flows alike. I find that an exogenous increase in algorithmic trading around the introduction of the NYSE Hybrid Market leads to a significant decrease in the predictive power of surprises in market order imbalance and limit order book imbalances, especially at the outer levels of the limit order book. However, the predictive power of past returns remains largely unchanged. This suggests that algorithmic trading improves market efficiency by facilitating the incorporation of information embedded in both market and limit order flows.

Lighting technology and research have undergone remarkable advancements in recent years, revolutionising the way surroundings are illuminated.These advancements have contributed to a deeper understanding and enhanced utilisation of lighting design for humans and the environment.The keynote presentation will delve into the recent developments and future directions of lighting research, exploring the dynamic landscape of this rapidly evolving field.The first part of the keynote will focus on the advancements in lighting technology.Solid-state lighting (SSL) has emerged as a game-changer, offering energy-efficient and long-lasting lighting solutions.The latest breakthroughs in SSL, especially alternatives to LEDs (e.g., carbon-based quantum dots, laser diodes), will be discussed.Additionally, the role of VR and AR, freeform optics, and additive manufacturing in lighting design and research will be explored.The second part of the keynote will focus on the diverse applications of lighting research.The topics will be discussed under two parts: measurement of light and user response (wearable sensors, circadian metrics, drone measurements, light fields, lighting application efficacy), and utilisation of techniques (projection mapping, adaptive, autonomous lighting systems, digital lighting design, predictive maintenance).Finally, drawing from past experiences, future directions in lighting research will be outlined, highlighting the importance of resource management, applied research, circular economy, and systems thinking.The keynote aims to inspire researchers, practitioners, and industry professionals to continue pushing the boundaries of lighting technology and its applications, paving the way for a brighter and more sustainable future.

Background and purposeLittle is known about the comparative effects of migraine preventive drugs. We aimed to estimate treatment retention and effectiveness of migraine preventive drugs in a nationwide registry‐based cohort study in Norway between 2010 and 2020.MethodsWe assessed retention, defined as the number of uninterrupted treatment days, and effectiveness, defined as the reduction in filled triptan prescriptions during four 90‐day periods after the first preventive prescription, compared to a 90‐day baseline period. We compared retention and efficacy for different drugs against beta blockers. Comparative retention was estimated with hazard ratios (HRs), adjusted for covariates, using Cox regression, and effectiveness as odds ratios (ORs) using logistic regression, with propensity‐weighted adjustment for covariates.ResultsWe identified 104,072 migraine patients, 81,890 of whom were female (78.69%) and whose mean (standard deviation) age was 44.60 (15.61) years. Compared to beta blockers, botulinum toxin (HR 0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.42–0.44) and calcitonin gene‐related peptide pathway antibodies (CGRPabs; HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.59–0.66) were the least likely to be discontinued, while clonidine (HR 2.95, 95% CI 2.88–3.02) and topiramate (HR 1.34, 95% CI 1.31–1.37) were the most likely to be discontinued. Patients on simvastatin, CGRPabs, and amitriptyline were more likely to achieve a clinically significant reduction in triptan use during the first 90 days of treatment, with propensity score‐adjusted ORs of 1.28 (95% CI 1.19–1.38), 1.23 (95% CI 0.79–1.90), and 1.13 (95% CI 1.08–1.17), respectively.ConclusionsWe found a favorable effect of CGRPabs, amitriptyline, and simvastatin compared with beta blockers, while topiramate and clonidine were associated with poorer outcomes.

We describe five families from different regions in Norway with a late-onset autosomal-dominant hereditary polyneuropathy sharing a heterozygous variant in the SLC12A6 gene. Mutations in the same gene have previously been described in infants with autosomal-recessive hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy with corpus callosum agenesis and mental retardation (Andermann syndrome), and in a few case reports describing dominantly acting de novo mutations, most of them with onset in childhood. The phenotypes in our families demonstrated heterogeneity. Some of our patients only had subtle to moderate symptoms and some individuals even no complaints. None had CNS manifestations. Clinical and neurophysiological evaluations revealed a predominant sensory axonal polyneuropathy with slight to moderate motor components.In all 10 patients the identical SLC12A6 missense variant, NM_001365088.1 c.1655G>A p.(Gly552Asp), was identified. For functional characterization, the mutant potassium chloride cotransporter 3 was modelled in Xenopus oocytes. This revealed a significant reduction in potassium influx for the p.(Gly552Asp) substitution.Our findings further expand the spectrum of SLC12A6 disease, from biallelic hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy with corpus callosum agenesis and mental retardation and monoallelic early-onset hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy caused by de novo mutations, to late-onset autosomal-dominant axonal neuropathy with predominant sensory deficits.