Deacons as conversation partners on existential issues with older people: An empirical study in Norway

Deacons within the Church of Norway constitute a professional group that can encounter older people’s need for existential conversations, but empirical research in this field is scarce. This study aims to explore professional deacons’ perceived competence in the field of older people and existential issues. Three focus group interviews with 18 deacons and an inductive qualitative content analysis were used to answer the inquiry. We introduce the term “approachable deacons” as an analytical innovation. Based on the empirical material and the perspectives from diaconia and the psychology of religion, arguments are made for the societal contribution of the deacon profession. As approachable existential conversation partners, deacons may make an essential contribution to public mental health. We assert that the deacon profession represents a counterculture to society and healthcare, where time is short, older people may feel downgraded, and existential and religious literacy is limited.publishedVersio

Host and microbe determinants that may influence the success of S. aureus colonization

Staphylococcus aureus may cause serious skin and soft tissue infections, deep abscesses, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, pneumonia, and sepsis. S. aureus persistently colonizes 25–30% of the adult human population, and S. aureus carriers have an increased risk for infections caused by the bacterium. The major site of colonization is the nose, i.e., the vestibulum nasi, which is covered with ordinary skin and hair follicles. Several host and microbe determinants are assumed to be associated with colonization. These include the presence and expression level of bacterial adhesins, which can adhere to various proteins in the extracellular matrix or on the cellular surface of human skin. The host expresses several antimicrobial peptides and lipids. The level of β-defensin 3, free sphingosine, and cis-6-hexadecenoic acid are found to be associated with nasal carriage of S. aureus. Other host factors are certain polymorphisms in Toll-like receptor 2, mannose-binding lectin, C-reactive protein, glucocorticoid-, and vitamin D receptor. Additional putative determinants for carriage include genetic variation and expression of microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules and their interaction partners, as well as variation among humans in the ability of recognizing and responding appropriately to the bacteria. Moreover, the available microflora may influence the success of S. aureus colonization. In conclusion, colonization is a complex interplay between the bacteria and its host. Several bacterial and host factors are involved, and an increased molecular understanding of these are needed

Exploring differentially expressed genes of Staphylococcus aureus exposed to human tonsillar cells using RNA sequencing

Background - The nose and the throat are the most predominant colonizing sites of Staphylococcus aureus, and colonization is a risk factor for infection. Nasal colonization is well described; however, we have limited knowledge about S. aureus throat colonization. The main objective of this study was to explore differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in S. aureus throat isolate TR145 exposed to human tonsil epithelial cells (HTEpiC) by using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and pathway analysis. DEGs in S. aureus at 1 or 3 hours (h) interaction with its host were explored. Results - S. aureus was co-cultured in absence and presence of tonsillar cells at 1 or 3 h. Over the 3 h time frame, the bacteria multiplied, but still caused only minor cytotoxicity. Upon exposure to tonsillar cell line, S. aureus changed its transcriptomic profile. A total of 508 DEGs were identified including unique (1 h, 160 DEGs and 3 h, 78 DEGs) and commonly shared genes (1 and 3 h, 270 DEGs). Among the DEGs, were genes encoding proteins involved in adhesion and immune evasion, as well as iron acquisition and transport. Reverse transcription qPCR was done on selected genes, and the results correlated with the RNA-seq data. Conclusion - We have shown the suitability of using HTEpiC as an in vitro model for investigating key determinants in S. aureus during co-incubation with host cells. Several DEGs were unique after 1 or 3 h exposure to host cells, while others were commonly expressed at both time points. As their expression is induced upon meeting with the host, they might be explored further for future targets for intervention to prevent either colonization or infection in the throat

The impact of personality traits on customer orientation

Spesialisering markedsføringsledelseEngelsk sammendrag (abstract) PURPOUSE: This study sought to better understand what impact personality traits has on individual customer-oriented behaviour. Due to the literatures call to investigate more personality traits, empathy and kindness is included alongside the Five Factor Model in this study. METHOD: A causal research design was chosen for this study because of its theoretical foundation. The theoretical foundation makes it possible to measure to what extent personality traits affect individual customer-oriented behaviour. To measure this, seven hypotheses were generated and tested through a cross-sectional study with an anonymous questioner. Data was collected from 157 frontline employees in the banking industry. FINDINGS: The seven personality traits included explained 34.4% of the total variance of individual customer-oriented behaviour. Despite this only three personality traits reached statistically significant positive effect which were agreeableness, consciousness and empathy. LIMITATIONS: This study is limited to a selection of personality traits, which are measured by self-ratings among first-line employees in the banking industry. Further research should seek to include other personality traits that is not yet explored. Also, it may be interesting to use a combination of self and observer ratings of personality in further research, as well as use this study as a basis for research in other industries. CONTRIBUTION: The findings of this study contribute to the existing literature by showing that personality traits beyond the Five Factor Model impacts individual customer-oriented behaviour. Similarities exist with findings in other studies; however, this study is the first to confirm a direct effect between empathy and individual customer-oriented behaviour. This result indicates that personality traits beyond the Five Factor Model have an effect. Furthermore, this study reinforces the view that there are customer-oriented personality traits

The dose-response relationship of pre-menopausal alcohol consumption with age at menopause: a population study of 280 497 women in Norway

Background: Previous research suggests that alcohol consumption is associated with high age at menopause. Yet, knowledge about the dose– response relationship is inconsistent. Thus, we studied the pattern of the association of pre-menopausal alcohol consumption with age at natural menopause. Methods: We performed a retrospective population-based study using self-reported data from 280 497 women aged 50–69 years attending the Norwegian breast cancer screening programme (BreastScreen Norway) during 2006–15. Associations of weekly alcohol consumption between the age of 20 and 49 years with age at menopause were estimated as hazard ratios (HRs) using Cox proportional hazard models with restricted cubic splines to allow for non-linear associations. We adjusted for year and place of birth, number of childbirths, educational level, body mass index and smoking habits. Results: Mean age at natural menopause was 51.20 years (interquartile range: 49–54 years). The adjusted HR of reaching menopause was highest for women with no alcohol consumption (reference) and the HR decreased by alcohol consumption up to 50 grams per week (adjusted HR 0.87; 95% CI: 0.86–0.88). Above 50 grams, there was no further decrease in the HR of reaching menopause (P for non-linearity of <0.001). Conclusions: Women who did not consume alcohol were youngest at menopause. The lack of a dose–response association among alcohol consumers implies virtually no relation of alcohol consumption with age at menopause. Our findings may suggest that characteristics of the women who did not consume alcohol, not accounted for in the data analyses, explain their younger age at menopause

Energy justice in heat metering:Findings from a Danish experiment of metering and distribution in residential apartment buildings

According to EU regulations on heat metering, households should be metered individually and pay accordingly. However, in apartment blocks, heating is often provided for the whole building, and different ways of distributing costs are used. In Denmark, an investigation has been carried out into new ways of distributing costs, using indoor climate measurements of temperature, CO2 and humidity. Incorporating these three types of measurements in payment distribution can create an incentive to encourage residents to pursue a healthier indoor climate with lower energy consumption. This paper reports on qualitative interviews with residents as well as housing staff taking part in the experiment, relating empirical findings to questions of justice and ethics raised in the literature. Analysis reveals differing levels of understanding among residents concerning metering systems and rationales, including in relation to cost distribution and questions of justice. The experiment was carried out in social housing blocks where some residents could be categorised as vulnerable in terms of limited income and specific heating needs. Furthermore, issues of global climate and justice from an intergenerational perspective are also considered. This paper therefore draws on wider discussions about energy justice and vulnerability related to types of heat metering, and shows how these issues are interlinked with the socio-material context and the interplay with socio-technical constructions of comfort norms. The relevance of country-specific insights are thus demonstrated at a European level and beyond.</p

Public space in an age of austerity

Through an overview of the decade 2008 to 2017, and looking comparatively across four northern European cities, this paper reflects on the changing nature of public space during these austerity years and on the processes of shaping public spaces. The paper draws from the experiences of London, Copenhagen, Malmo and Oslo to explore processes of the design, development, use and management of public spaces during this period. The evidence suggests that we have witnessed a period of significant innovation, side by side with major challenges to the collective approach to public spaces. This has led to distinct forms of public spaces that for good or ill have multiplied as a result of the trends discussed in the paper, spaces of; expectation; the private/public sphere; spectacle; respite; infrastructure; diversion; income generation; security; the ephemeral city; community control; occupation; disadvantage; and decline. Episodes of changing practice are set out in the paper and cumulatively reveal distinct and significant changes during the austerity era, although not necessarily in the manner that might have been expected. Instead, in these four cities, the impact of austerity seems to have been eclipsed by other evolving and competing public policy goals, and by the evolving range of public space types

Shotgun-metagenomics based prediction of antibiotic resistance and virulence determinants in Staphylococcus aureus from periprosthetic tissue on blood culture bottles

Shotgun-metagenomics may give valuable clinical information beyond the detection of potential pathogen(s). Identification of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), virulence genes and typing directly from clinical samples has been limited due to challenges arising from incomplete genome coverage. We assessed the performance of shotgun-metagenomics on positive blood culture bottles (n = 19) with periprosthetic tissue for typing and prediction of AMR and virulence profiles in Staphylococcus aureus. We used different approaches to determine if sequence data from reads provides more information than from assembled contigs. Only 0.18% of total reads was derived from human DNA. Shotgun-metagenomics results and conventional method results were consistent in detecting S. aureus in all samples. AMR and known periprosthetic joint infection virulence genes were predicted from S. aureus. Mean coverage depth, when predicting AMR genes was 209 ×. Resistance phenotypes could be explained by genes predicted in the sample in most of the cases. The choice of bioinformatic data analysis approach clearly influenced the results, i.e. read-based analysis was more accurate for pathogen identification, while contigs seemed better for AMR profiling. Our study demonstrates high genome coverage and potential for typing and prediction of AMR and virulence profiles in S. aureus from shotgun-metagenomics data