Social equality vs. individual freedom: a pilot study on individual differences in adults’ preferences

Motives for social equality and individual freedom are at the heart of group living. However, when equality and freedom are pitted one against the other, would people show a preference for social equality, or would they prefer individual freedom? Moreover, are individual differences in these preferences related to classical measures used in moral and political psychology, such as social dominance orientation, left- and right-wing authoritarianism, competitive jungle social world view and support for social welfare and redistributive policies? In this pilot study (N=29), the topic of interest is how people intuitively evaluate simple social scenarios depicting the presence or absence of social equality and the presence or absence of individual freedom in a certain group of agents. We found that both gender and support for social welfare and redistributive policies significantly predict how people evaluate situations depicting individual freedom vs. social equality. In particular, being a female and showing support for social welfare and redistributive policies are associated with a tendency to prioritise equality over individual freedom. Future studies could use a more representative sample in order to reach stronger conclusions that could be better generalised

The Ecology Of Host-Seeking Mosquitoes Within The Red River Valley Of Central North Dakota

Host-seeking mosquitoes are taxing for people and wildlife alike in the Red River Valley (RRV). During the summer massive numbers of mosquitoes swarm the RRV, yet little is known about the ecology and biology of the mosquito species that inhabit this area. This research will help to fill some of those knowledge gaps by studying the ecology of host seeking mosquitoes in the RRV. Host-seeking mosquitoes were collected using CO2-baited MMXTM traps. Trapping was conducted in two very different rural settings within the RRV. One site, a 40-acre hardwood forest with closed canopy, the other a farmstead consisting of open agricultural fields interspersed with forested wind-rows. Trapping was conducted 2-3 times weekly throughout the mosquito season (May through August). Each night\u27s catch was sorted, counted and identified to species. During sorting, all engorged and partially engorged mosquitoes were removed, identified to species and stored at -80°C. DNA was extracted from individual mosquito blood meals and analyzed via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays multiple times to determine the host feeding preferences and parasitic infection status of the host. The first round of PCR assays determined the host species from which the blood originated (e.g., deer, dog, human, etc.). Analyzing the host composition of many mosquito blood meals produced information on the preference of host species that were most commonly fed upon by the various mosquito species within their natural environment. The following rounds of PCR assays examined mosquito blood meals for the presence of blood-borne pathogens (e.g., filarial nematodes, avian malaria, etc.). This process, known as xenomonitoring, uses mosquitoes as a sampling tool to acquire blood samples from wildlife without having direct contact with the vertebrate host. Thus, xenomonitoring is an indirect way of estimating the prevalence of infection among vertebrate populations. Mosquito counts from the forest and farm sites along with Grand Forks “Skeeter Meter” counts from the years of 2002-2010 were used to construct predictive models to understand the effects of climate on mosquito population dynamics and abundance throughout the summer. Generalized linear models are used to determine how climate variables play roles on everyday mosquito activity, while cross-correlation maps were used to determine correlation values of preceding weather variables to trap counts. This allowed for the determination of which climate variables can be used to predict how mosquito populations will fluctuate in the future. This research provides a critical foundation by describing the species composition of mosquitoes that inhabit two unique rural study sites within the RRV. Species composition is crucial to the initial component of mosquito-borne vector transmission of diseases, presence of mosquito vectors. Building from the composition, this study provides information describing the population trends of multiple mosquito populations throughout the summers of 2009-2011 at these two rural sites. Because mosquito population trends differed between sites, several meteorological variables were identified as affectors of mosquito abundance and activity. By understanding how these meteorological factors affect mosquito populations, vital data is provided for the future design of predictive models that will allow for focused mosquito control, but also lend information in potential disease risk-assessment map production. To further build on the potential for zoonotic and enzootic pathogen transmission, it is important to understand the feeding habits of local mosquito species. These feeding preferences determine which hosts are more commonly fed upon by given mosquito species and offer a background to determine which vector transmitted diseases are currently present in the RRV as well as potential diseases, that upon introduction to the region, which could be transmitted within the valley

A Mass Spectrometry-Based Method For Quantification Of Human Metallothionein Isoforms And Usefulness In Biomarker Detection Of Cancers And Metal Toxicity

Current methods for detecting metallothionein (MT) protein expression lack the specificity to distinguish between all twelve human isoforms. Each, however, can be distinguished by the masses of their acetylated, cysteine-rich, hydrophilic N-terminal tryptic peptides. These properties were exploited to develop a mass spectrometry-based method for their simultaneous quantification. Human kidney HK-2 epithelial cells expressing recombinant MT-3 were grown in the presence or absence of cadmium. Cytosolic proteins were alkylated with 14N- or 15N-iodoacetamide and digested with trypsin. The N-terminal MT peptides were enriched by two-dimensional liquid chromatography and analyzed by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. Relative expression was measured by combining 14N-labeled control and 15N-labeled cadmium-treated cytosols before trypsin digestion and determining monoisotopic peak ratios of the targeted peptides. Absolute quantification was accomplished with 15N-labeled synthetic peptides. Seven isoforms (MT-1E, MT-1F, MT-1G2, MT-1M, MT-1X, MT-2, and MT-3) were detected and quantified. The dynamic range was sufficient to detect 67-fold differences in abundance and 12-fold induction for some isoforms. Combined, MTs represented 0.3% to 1.5% of total cytosolic protein. The mRNA isoform expression levels differed in both the rank order and fold induction. The assay was also applied to four malignant (MCF-7, Hs578T, T-47D, and MDA-MB-231) and one non-malignant (MCF-10A) human breast cell lines. The malignant cell lines were either estrogen receptor positive (ER+) or estrogen receptor negative (ER-). Three MT isoforms (MT-2, MT-1E, and MT-1X) were quantified in the breast cells. In regards to the ER status of the cells, the ER+ malignant cells had low MT protein levels while the ER- malignant cells had a significant overexpression of MTs compared to the control. When comparing the ER+ to ER- cells, there was between a 5.5 - 14.5 fold increase in protein expression of the individual MT isoforms or a 38-fold difference in abundance between all MT isoforms. This method expands the usefulness of human MT isoforms as potential biomarkers for specific diseases or environmental exposures to heavy metals

Fysisk aktivitet og ensomhet blant unge studenter under koronapandemien

Denne studien undersøker om det er en sammenheng mellom fysisk aktivitet og ensomhet blant unge studenter, kontrollert for andre faktorer som har vist seg å ha sammenheng med ensomhet i gruppen. Undersøkelsen har utgangspunkt i at ensomhet er en følelse som kan føre til en rekke negative helsekonsekvenser og at studenter er en gruppe som kan være spesielt utsatt for ensomhet. Utvalget (N=1733) bestod av studenter mellom aldrene 18 og 34 år (M = 21,9, SD = 2,5) der 51,4% hadde høy ensomhet (M = 44,8, SD = 11,3). Resultatene viser at studenter som trener er mindre ensomme sammenlignet med studenter som ikke trener. Idrettsdeltakelse ser ut til å kunne beskytte mot ensomhet, men ikke ved tidlig frafall. Sosial kompetanse og sosiale relasjoner beskytter studenter mot ensomhet, mens sjenanse, grubling og koronapandemien bidrar til økt ensomhet. Studien viser at det er et sterkt behov for inngripende tiltak i studentpopulasjonen for å begrense følelser av ensomhet

Kriseledelse. En krevende overgang fra linje til stab

Oppgaven handler om krisehåndtering i politiet. Den er gjennomført som en casestudie av Oslo politidistrikts overgang fra linjeledelse til stabsledelse under akutte kriser. Når en ekstraordinær hendelse inntreffer vil politidistriktene etablere en operasjonell stab som skal forsterke normaldriften og sørge for en mer effektiv krisehåndtering. Under etablering av staben kan det oppstå utfordringer som følger av at politiet endrer ledelsesorganisering mens krisehåndteringen pågår, og disse er identifisert, analysert og diskutert gjennom en kvalitativ studie med hovedvekt på dybdesamtaler med sentrale operasjonelle ledere i Oslopolitiet. Som støtte til intervjuene har en gjennomgang av politiets planverk supplert med sentral teori om krisehåndtering gitt muligheter til å kunne vurdere i hvilken grad det å endre organisasjonsmodell er hensiktsmessig under pågående, akutte kriser. Politihøgskolens opplæringsprogram og evalueringer har også beriket datatilgangen og analysen. Målet med undersøkelsen har vært å gi økt forståelse og innsikt innenfor et fenomen som har vært grundig evaluert gjennom 22. juli-kommisjonen, men hvor dette prosjektet har lagt vekt på andre perspektiver enn de som ble presentert av Gjørv i 2012. Oppgaven tilbyr en komplementær forklaring som har studert om strukturelle forhold knyttet til organisasjonsdesignet kan knyttes til utfordringene som opptrer når politiet skal etablere stab. I tillegg blir praksisen i politiet vurdert, og om denne er egnet for å møte utfordringene som oppstår. Analysen viser at politiet i for stor grad har prioritert tiltak i praksisperspektivet i før-krisearbeidet og at organisasjonsstrukturen ikke i tilstrekkelig grad ivaretar behovene for fleksibilitet gjennom de formelle strukturene som planverket bygger på. Disse manglene fører til at krisehåndteringsevnen kan bli redusert fordi det oppstår uklare forventinger og uklar situasjonsforståelse hos aktørene når organiseringen endres. Særlig det å opprettholde effektive beslutningsprosesser kan bli skadelidende, fordi presset oppleves som høyt og organisasjonsmodellen oppleves som mer ukjent å arbeide i. Det kan være svært krevende å holde fullt fokus rettet mot situasjonsutviklingen i kriser med høy kompleksitet og dynamisk utvikling, samtidig som man skal etablere et nytt organisasjonsledd gjennom staben.This master's thesis examines crisis management within the police service. It has been carried out as a case study of Oslo Police District's transition from line management to staff management during acute crises. When an extraordinary incident occurs, the police districts will set up a crisis command group whose task it is to reinforce the normal command structure and ensure more efficient crisis management. Challenges may arise during the setting-up of the crisis command group as a result of the police changing their management structure during the ongoing handling of the crisis, and these challenges are identified, analysed and discussed through a qualitative study emphasizing on in-depth interviews with key operational leaders in Oslo Police District. As a support for the interviews, an examination of the police emergency plans and central theories on crisis management have provided possibilities to assess to what extent changing the organisational design is expedient during ongoing acute crises. The Norwegian Police University College's training programme and evaluations have also enriched the access to data and the analysis. The aim of this study has been to provide increased understanding and insight into a phenomenon that has been thoroughly evaluated by the 22 of July Commission, but this project has emphasized on other perspectives than those presented by the 22 of July Commission in 2012. This thesis offers a complementary explanation that has looked into whether structural aspects related to the organisational design may be connected to the challenges arising when the police are setting up a crisis command group. In addition, the practice within the police is assessed and whether it is suited for facing the challenges that arise. The analysis shows that the police have prioritized, to a too high degree, measures in the evolutionary practice perspective in the pre-crisis work, and that the organisational structure does not sufficiently take into account the need for flexibility through the formal structures on which the emergency plans are based. These deficiencies could lead to reduced crisis management capability, as unclear expectations and unclear situational awareness will occur in the various actors involved when the organisational structure is changed. This could in particular have a negative impact on maintaining efficient decision-making processes, as the actors involved feel a high pressure and the organisational design seems less familiar to them. It can be very difficult to maintain full focus on the development of the situation in high complexity crises with a dynamic development at the same time as establishing a new organisational link through the crisis command group

Acceptance Through Art and Technology: Learning, Linking and Creating Waves in the World From the Root of Personal Culture

As an educator, my role is not only to teach academia, but to also create lessons that encourage personal growth. My goal is to help my students find a new interest or perspective on life, and gain greater self-awareness and appreciation. Initially the objective of my final creative project was to introduce the art form of photography and have my students explore and document personal culture. My students used epals.com to exchange their photographs with students from other countries to make cultural connections. I wanted this electronic exchange to exhibit differences and similarities my students shared with students across the world. Though challenges presented themselves, I forged on, searching for new experiences that proved to teach deeper understandings. What started as a cultural diversity project, metamorphosized into a series of social tolerance and self-discovery exercises. The cultural lessons became the vehicle that taught the power of meta-cognition, empathy, self-expression, self-awareness, and self- esteem. My students inspired me by giving me hope and assurance that stepping outside the traditional box of teaching would produce results far beyond the expected. My two years with the Creative Pulse gave me the courage to dig deep, for the meaning of the material. I was empowered by the opportunities I created for my students and inspired to push my limits as a teacher. Through reflective writing and meta-cognition I have gained an understanding of the personal and professional growth that has altered me throughout the Creative Pulse Journey and forever enhanced my teaching style

Supportive indoor environments for functional play in ECEC institutions: a strategy for promoting well-being and physical activity?

The physical environment in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) institutions provide children with possibilities for play. This study describes a physical environmental intervention aiming to increase the possibilities for functional play in the indoor environment, and its influence on children’s well-being and physical activity. The intervention involved the establishment of a tumbling space with soft surfaces, mats and big construction materials. The sample consists of video observations of 65 children’s free play in seven ECEC institutions at two data points. Multilevel regression analysis indicates that children’s physical activity and functional play is strongly related to the use of a tumbling space, and that the intervention group had a higher increase in functional play following the intervention compared to the control group. The impact of the tumbling space on well-being is limited. The results indicate that targeting children’s possibilities for functional play may be beneficial form a health promotion standpoint.publishedVersio

Important Factors When Communicating with Sami Patients About Health, Illness and Care Issues

Accepted manuscript version. Published version available at https://doi.org/10.18261/issn1892-2686-2018-04-04.Norwegian abstract: Kommunikasjon er viktig i utøvelsen av god omsorg. Formålet med denne studien er å utforske hvordan samer beskriver kommunikasjon i møte med helsepersonell når de snakker om helse, sykdom og omsorg og i tillegg hvilke faktorer de utpeker som viktige i denne konteksten. Elleve semi-strukturerte intervju ble gjennomført på samisk og transkribert til norsk. Det var både menn (n=2) og kvinner (n=9), yngre og eldre som alle hadde vært enten pasienter eller pårørende, eller begge deler, i møte med helsepersonell. Våre funn viser at samer kommuniserer på en sirkulær, unik måte der de «snakker rundt grøten» om helse spørsmål og at det er viktig med god tid i samtalen. Helsepersonell må være klar over at dette når de spør om direkte, private og sensitive spørsmål. Deltagerne i studien sier at å bruke samisk språk i møte med helsepersonell uttrykker en bekreftelse av deres samiske identitet, og at det er påkrevd med tolk når man skal diskutere helsespørsmål med helsepersonell. Spørsmålet om hvem som egentlig tenger tolk ble snudd om, til å gjelde helsepersonellet. Det er ikke de samiske pasientene som trenger tolk, det er helsepersonellet som gjennom lovverket er pålagt å gi likeverdige helsetjenester og informasjon på en måte som pasientene oppfatter og forstår konsekvensene av. Tolketjenesten er på plass for å hjelpe helsepersonell til å utføre sine lovpålagte oppgaver for samiske pasienter. Bruk av samisk språk i utøvelsen av pleie- og omsorg bidrar til å gi sikkerhet og respekt for samiske pasienter, noe som og fremmer helsen i et trygt miljø.Communication is essential for the provision of competent nursing care. The purpose of this study is to explore how Sami describe communication in encounters with health care providers, when talking about health, illness, and care, as well as important factors in this context. Semi-structured interviews of eleven Sami participants in northern Norway were conducted in North-Sami language, subsequently transcribed, and translated into Norwegian. There were men (n=2) and woman (n=9), young and elders which either have been patients or next of kin, or both, in encounter with health care providers. Their stories were from GP`s office and hospitals. Our study found that the Sami communicate in a circular and unique way about health issues, and that sufficient time is essential in conversations. Healthcare providers must be aware of this and 'beat around the bush' when asking questions, approaching private or sensitive issues indirectly. According to the respondents, the use of Sami language in encounters with healthcare staff expressed a confirmation of their Sami identity, and that interpretation service is required during talks about health issues. Some of the participants turned the question around and placed the need for interpretation services with the healthcare providers instead, arguing that the Sami do not need interpretation services, but the health care providers do. They maintained that interpretation services were set up to help healthcare providers fulfill their statutory healthcare duties to Sami patients. Use of Sami language in healthcare helps to ensure comfort, safety and respect, and thereby promotes health and helps to create a safe environment

Fathering and Substance Use in Northern Uganda: An Ethnographic Study

University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. May 2015. Major: Family Social Science. Advisor: Elizabeth Wieling. 1 computer file (PDF); v, 156 pages