Natur og friluftsliv i logopedisk praksis. En kartleggingsstudie av utbredelse og begrunnelser

Masteroppgave i logopedi - Nord universitet, 201

Resultatmåling av markedskommunikasjon på sosiale medier: norske konsulenters perspektiv

Denne bacheloroppgaven tar for seg resultatmåling av markedskommunikasjon på sosiale medier. Ut i fra egne erfaringer og det inntrykket vi har fått av teorien, viser det seg at det finnes lite kunnskap om hvordan resultatmålingsprosesser bør foregå. Med dette som bakgrunn ønsker vi å ta for oss følgende problemstilling: ”Hvordan kan bedrifter måle resultater av markedskommunikasjon på sosiale medier: norske konsulenters perspektiv” I litteratursøket ble det tatt utgangspunkt i tradisjonelle teorier om resultatmåling, markedskommunikasjon og sosiale medier, men også nyere teorier om resultatmåling av markedskommunikasjon i sosiale medier. Oppgaven baserer seg på grunngitt teori (Grounded Theory), som er en metodisk tilnærming i kvalitativ metode. Fem informanter har blitt intervjuet i dybdeintervjuer, og empirien har som mål å vise til den tilnærmingen av resultatmåling norske konsulenter har i dag. Videre har ulike kodeprosesser blitt brukt for å kategorisere og behandle funnene fra intervjuene. Funnene og teorien er analysert, og ut ifra dette har det blitt utviklet en resultatmålingsprosess som kan ses på som generell for norske bedrifter som vil benytte seg av resultatmåling av markedskommunikasjon på sosiale medier

Identification of proteins related to the stress response in Enterococcus faecalis V583 caused by bovine bile

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Enterococcus faecalis </it>is an opportunistic pathogen and one of the most important causes of hospital infections. Bile acids are a major stress factor bacteria have to cope with in order to colonize and survive in the gastro-intestinal tract. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of bile acids on the intracellular proteome of <it>E. faecalis </it>V583.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The proteomes of cells challenged with 1% bile were analyzed after 20 - 120 minutes exposure, using 2D gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Among the approximately 500 observed proteins, 53 unique proteins were found to be regulated in response to bile and were identified with mass spectrometry. The identified proteins belonged to nine different functional classes, including fatty acid- and phospholipid-biosynthesis, energy metabolism, and transport and binding. Proteins involved in fatty acid and phospholipid biosynthesis pathways were clearly overrepresented among the identified proteins and all were down-regulated upon exposure to bile. The proteome data correlated reasonably well with data from previous transcriptome experiments done under the same conditions, but several differences were observed.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results provide an overview of potentially important proteins that <it>E. faecalis </it>V583 needs to regulate in order to survive and adapt to a bile-rich environment, among which are several proteins involved in fatty acid and phospholipid biosynthesis pathways. In addition, this study reveals several hypothetical proteins, which are both abundant and clearly regulated and thus stand out as targets for future studies on bile stress.</p

The effect of bio-electro-magnetic-energyregulation therapy on sleep duration and sleep quality among elite players in Norwegian women’s football

The current study investigated if physical loads peak on game days and if Bio- Electro-Magnetic-Energy-Regulation (BEMER) therapy is affecting sleep duration and sleep quality on nights related to game nights among elite players in Norwegian women’s elite football. The sample included 21 female football players from an elite top series club with a mean age of ~24 years (± 2.8). Sleep was measured every day over a period of 273 consecutive days with a Somnofy sleep monitor based on ultra-wideband (IR-UWB) pulse radar and Doppler technology. The current study was conducted as a quasi-experiment, where each player was their own control based on a control period that lasted for 3 months, and an experimental period that lasted for 5 months. Accordantly, the time each player spent with BEMER therapy was used as a control variable. Multivariate analyses of variance using FFMANOVA and univariate ANOVA with False Discovery Rate adjusted p-values show that physical performance (total distance, distance per minute, sprint meters >22.5 kmh, accelerations and decelerations) significantly peak on game day compared with ordinary training days and days related to game days. The results also show that sleep quantity and quality are significantly reduced on game night, which indicate disturbed sleep caused by the peak in physical load. Most sleep variables significantly increased in the experiment period, where BEMER therapy was used, compared to the control period before the introduction of BEMER therapy. Further, the analyses show that players who spent BEMER therapy >440 h had the most positive effects on their sleep, and that these effects were significantly compared to the players who used BEMER therapy <440 h. The findings are discussed based on the function of sleep and the different sleep stages have on recovery

Characterization of wooden breast myopathy: a focus on syndecans and ECM remodeling

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Effect of allelic variation at the Glu-3/Gli-1 loci on breadmaking quality parameters in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Low molecular weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GS) encoded by the Glu-3 loci are known to contribute to wheat breadmaking quality. However, the specific effect of individual Glu-3 alleles is not well understood due to their complex protein banding patterns in SDS-PAGE and tight linkage with gliadins at the Gli-1 locus. Using DNA markers and a backcross program we developed a set of nine near isogenic lines (NILs) including different Glu-A3/GliA-1 or Glu-B3/Gli-B1 alleles in the genetic background of the Argentine variety ProINTA Imperial. The nine NILs and the control were evaluated in three different field trials in Argentina. Significant genotype-by-environment interactions were detected for most quality parameters indicating that the effects of the Glu-3/Gli-1 alleles are modulated by environmental differences. None of the NILs showed differences in total flour protein content, but relative changes in the abundance of particular classes of proteins cannot be ruled out. On average, the Glu-A3f, Glu-B3b, Glu-B3g and Glu-B3i(Man) alleles were associated with the highest values in gluten strength-related parameters, while Glu-A3e, Glu-B3a and Glu-B3i(Chu) were consistently associated with weak gluten and low quality values. The value of different Glu3/Gli-1 allele combinations to improve breadmaking quality is discussed

An effect evalution of an intervention to improve the psychosocial work environment of a specific university unit

This thesis evaluates the effects of a prolonged intervention effort implemented in a specific unit at a Norwegian university. The effort consisted of two interventions; the employeeship program and the health, safety and environment project. Interventions ran from early 2012, finishing late 2014/early 2015. The aim was to improve the psychosocial work environment, with emphasis on reducing widespread interpersonal conflicts. Data collected in fall 2012 and fall 2014, from a psychosocial work environment study involving the entire university, was used to evaluate effects. The unit was compared to the rest of the university on relevant variables over time. ANOVA showed a significant interaction effect for interpersonal conflicts, F(1, 6901) = 5.376, p =.020 - for the unit, interpersonal conflicts had decreased over time, whilst the same variable had increased for the rest of the university. A significant interaction effect was also found, F(1, 6936) = 5.282, p =.022, for social community. Whilst there was an increase in both groups, the unit had an increase so significant that they surpassed the university despite being lower on this variable in 2012. Other variables were largely unaffected. It is tentatively concluded that the interventions succeeded in their main goals of reducing interpersonal conflicts and in improving the collegial psychosocial climate. Effects that indicate that the efforts have resulted in a general increase in psychosocial resources are yet to be seen

Cerebrospinal fluid proteome shows disrupted neuronal development in multiple sclerosis

Despite intensive research, the aetiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) remains unknown. Cerebrospinal fluid proteomics has the potential to reveal mechanisms of MS pathogenesis, but analyses must account for disease heterogeneity. We previously reported explorative multivariate analysis by hierarchical clustering of proteomics data of MS patients and controls, which resulted in two groups of individuals. Grouping reflected increased levels of intrathecal inflammatory response proteins and decreased levels of proteins involved in neural development in one group relative to the other group. MS patients and controls were present in both groups. Here we reanalysed these data and we also reanalysed data from an independent cohort of patients diagnosed with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), who have symptoms of MS without evidence of dissemination in space and/or time. Some, but not all, CIS patients had intrathecal inflammation. The analyses reported here identified a common protein signature of MS/CIS that was not linked to elevated intrathecal inflammation. The signature included low levels of complement proteins, semaphorin-7A, reelin, neural cell adhesion molecules, inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H2, transforming growth factor beta 1, follistatin-related protein 1, malate dehydrogenase 1 cytoplasmic, plasma retinol-binding protein, biotinidase, and transferrin, all known to play roles in neural development. Low levels of these proteins suggest that MS/CIS patients suffer from abnormally low oxidative capacity that results in disrupted neural development from an early stage of the disease

Biodegradability and spectroscopic properties of DNOM affected by mercury transport and uptake

Dissolved natural organic matter (DNOM) is a complex mixture of heterogeneous organic macromolecules that are formed in the environment, mainly by decay of plant and animal remains. All freshwaters contain a certain amount of DNOM, though in the boreal region the levels of DNOM are usually high. During the past decades, there has been a significant increase of DNOM in surface waters in the Nordic countries, Scotland and North-East America. DNOM’s ability to absorb light results in a characteristic yellow-brown colour of the water. DNOM has numerous functional groups giving the molecules specific properties, including serving as complexing agents for soft metals such as mercury. That way, DNOM increases the mercury mobility, thereby increasing the loading of the metals from soil to surface waters. On the other hand, the complexation of metals to especially high molecular weight (HMW) DNOM is expected to reduce the toxicity of the metals by making them less bioavailable. Long-term increase in DNOM may be associated with changes in the size fractions and thus biodegradability of the DNOM, which might affect bioavailability of mercury to the nutrient web. In this thesis, it was hypothesised that mercury (totHg) is mainly bound to high molecular weight DNOM, and that this fraction is less bioavailable than the low molecular weight (LMW) DNOM. It was further hypothesised that because HMW DNOM is larger and more aromatic, it has higher sUVa (Abs254/DOC) and sVISa (Abs400/DOC) values, as well as lower SAR (Abs254/Abs400) values than LMW DNOM, which may result in lower bioavailability of mercury in the HMW fractions. In order to study these hypotheses, samples from lake Langtjern were collected in the spring, late summer and fall at three different positions of the lake (outlet, inlet and hypolimnion (6 m depth)). The samples were fractionated using Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF) with a 100 kDa cut-off. Samples were fractionated into high molecular weight DNOM (&gt;100 kDa) and low molecular weight DNOM (&lt;100 kDa). The results from this study showed that the main bulk of DOC was found in the high molecular fraction, and that the concentration of totHg was higher in the HMW fractions than in the LMW fraction as viewed across all seasons and collection sites. The mean value of totHg in the HMW fraction was 3.3 ngL-1, and 0.93 ngL-1 in the LMW fraction. The mercury concentration in the LMW fraction decreased from the spring to the fall, whereas no change was observed in the HMW fractions. LMW fractions were smaller and less aromatic than the HMW fractions. Biodegradation experiments showed that the HMW fractions were less easily biodegradable than the LMW fractions, which may be seen in relation to the larger size and more aromatic character. There was a significant interaction between the fraction size and the season, and between the fraction size and the sample site in the mercury density of DNOM (measured as totHg/DOC). These interactions show that the extent to which mercury was bound to the different size fractions changed over the season and over the sampling sites. Differences in the mercury density of DNOM between the fractions were not observed in the spring, whereas in the late summer and fall samples the highest mercury density was found in the HMW DNOM. In the LMW fractions, the density of mercury in the DNOM decreased strongly from the spring to late summer and fall, whereas minor changes were observed for the HMW fractions. The interaction between the sampling sites and the fraction size showed that the differences in mercury density of DNOM was observed at the hypolimnion and in the outlet, but not in the inlet. These observations suggest that changes in the DNOM occur in the lake, which may lead to uptake of mercury in the nutrient chain. This would be in accordance with the observed higher biodegradation of the LMW fraction, measured as respiration rate

Deficient phosphorylation of stat-1 in leukocytes identifies neutralizing antibodies in multiple sclerosis patients treated with interferon-beta

Background: Anti interferon-beta (IFN-β) neutralizing antibodies (NAb) affect efficacy of treatment of multiple sclerosis patients, but exactly when the detrimental effects of NAbs offset therapeutic efficacy is debated. Quantification of intracellular pathway-specific phosphorylation by phospho-specific flow cytometry (phosphoflow) is a promising tool for evaluation of these effects in primary immune cells from treated patients at the single-cell level. Method: Samples for phosphoflow and gene expression changes were collected before administration of IFN-β and at four, six, and eight hours thereafter. Patients were NAb negative (n = 3) or were NAb positive with low/medium (n = 1) or high (n = 2) NAb titers. Levels of phosphorylation of six Stat transcription factors (pStat) in seven cell subtypes and expression levels of 71 pathway-specific genes in whole blood were measured. The data was subjected to principal component analysis (PCA), fifty-fifty MANOVA, ANOVA, and partial least square regression (PLSR). Results: PCA of pStat levels clustered patients according to NAb class independently of time. PCA of gene expression data clustered patients according to NAb class but was affected by time and treatment. In the fifty-fifty MANOVA, NAb class was significant for both pStat levels and gene expression data. The ANOVA identified pStat1 protein in several cell subtypes as significantly affected by NAb class. The best fitting model for NAb prediction based on PLSR included pStat1 in monocytes, T cells, or lymphocytes and pStat3 in monocytes (r = 0.97). Gene expression data were slightly less predictive of NAb titers. Conclusion: Based on this proof of concept study, we hypothesize that NAb effects can be monitored by evaluation of a single biomarker, pStat1, in either monocytes or T cells by phosphoflow directly after IFN-β administration. The method will significantly reduce cost relative to labor intensive in vitro methods and offers a patient-specific approach to NAb evaluation