A methodological framework for capturing relative eyetracking coordinate data to determine gaze patterns and fixations from two or more observers

While physical activity during cancer treatment is found beneficial for breast cancer patients, evidence indicates ambiguous findings concerning effects of scheduled exercise programs on treatment-related symptoms. This study investigated effects of a scheduled home-based exercise intervention in breast cancer patients during adjuvant chemotherapy, on cancer-related fatigue, physical fitness, and activity level. Sixty-seven women were randomized to an exercise intervention group (n=33, performed strength training 3x/week and 30 minutes brisk walking/day) and a control group (n=34, performed their regular physical activity level). Data collection was performed at baseline, at completion of chemotherapy (Post1), and 6-month postchemotherapy (Post2). Exercise levels were slightly higher in the scheduled exercise group than in the control group. In both groups, cancer-related fatigue increased at Post1 but returned to baseline at Post2. Physical fitness and activity levels decreased at Post1 but were significantly improved at Post2. Significant differences between intervention and control groups were not found. The findings suggest that generally recommended physical activity levels are enough to relief cancer-related fatigue and restore physical capacity in breast cancer patients during adjuvant chemotherapy, although one cannot rule out that results reflect diminishing treatment side effects over time

Mapping Decision-Making: The Case of Tigrayan Women’s Contraceptive Use

Two reoccurring development presumptions found in international as well as national policies on gender and education formed the starting point for my doctoral research project in north-western Tigray, Ethiopia (Mjaaland 2013). The first assumes a causal link between education and women’s empowerment (as in the case of Millennium Development Goal 3). The second is based on the frequently quoted argument that educated women will have fewer children and, therefore, that educating girls will caus..

Co-photographing in North-western Tigray, Ethiopia

The argument in this article, which starts from the assertion that anthropological research is always dependent on cross-cultural collaboration – whether acknowledged or not – is based on my experience from north-western Tigray, North-Ethiopia as a photographic artist and photographing anthropologist. The photographic portraits that resulted from Tigrayan people taking control over their own self-representation in a process of “co-photographing” made me “see” the subtle socio-cultural dynamics of layering communication mediated through exposure and containment, visibility and invisibility. My interpretation of their self-assertive strategy in the photographic situation resonates with Kiven Strohm’s (2012) emphasis on responding to the research participants’ assertion or affirmation of equality in cross-cultural collaborative research relationships as opposed to presuming inequality. However, Western ethical guidelines that require the anonymization of participants, and which makes it difficult to acknowledge people’s contributions to our research, reaffirm, rather than challenge this presumed inequality between the researcher and the researched.ResumeResume

Ateismens topologi

The argument referring to a hidden God, deus absconditus, is a controversial but crucial point in the theology of Martin Luther. A key issue for Luther is the very distinction between the revealed and the hidden God, which prevents abuse and domestication of God’s name and authority. However, this topos can also be seen as a place of origin for modern atheism, as discussed by Hegel, Nietzsche, and Heidegger. The claim of God’s hiddenness introduces a destruction of traditional metaphysics, and hence a radical reconsideration on anthropology, texts, and phenomena. The author analyses this topos of thought in modern philosophy, from Pascal and Kant to Jacobi, Hegel, Nietzsche, Heidegger and Derrida. He argues that the notion of deus absconditus remains a highly questionable place within philosophical discourse, but therefore also represents a continuous questioning of the intellectual premises for late modern atheism

Religiøs topografi i nordisk protestantisme

Artikkelen skisserer en ramme for studiet av protestantisk topo-grafi, topologi og minneteori, og diskuterer premissene for å for-stå minnets tvetydighet innenfor den sekulære protestantisme som kjenne tegner de nordiske land i dag

Weekly Paclitaxel plus Capecitabine versus Docetaxel Every 3 Weeks plus Capecitabine in Metastatic Breast Cancer

Background. We performed a randomized phase II study comparing efficacy and toxicity of weekly paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 (Weetax) with three weekly docetaxel 75 mg/m2 (Threetax), both in combination with oral capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 twice daily for 2 weeks followed by a 1-week break. Patients. Thirty-seven women with confirmed metastatic breast cancer were randomized. Results. Median TTF was 174 (Weetax) versus 147 days (Threetax) (=0.472). Median OS was 933 (Weetax) versus 464 days (Threetax) (=0.191). Reasons for TTF were PD 8/18 (Weetax), 9/19 (Threetax); and toxicity: 8/18 (Weetax), 8/19 (Threetax). ORR was 72% (Weetax) versus 26% (Threetax) (=0.01). The Threetax-combination resulted in a higher incidence of leuco-/neutropenia compared to Weetax. Grade II anemia was more pronounced in the Weetax group. No difference was found in quality of life. Conclusion. Taxanes in combination with capecitabine resulted in a high level of toxicity. Taxanes and capecitabine should be considered given sequentially and not in combination

Analysis of host- and strain-dependent cell death responses during infectious salmon anemia virus infection in vitro

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Infectious salmon anemia virus (ISAV) is an aquatic orthomyxovirus and the causative agent of infectious salmon anemia (ISA), a disease of great importance in the Atlantic salmon farming industry. <it>In vitro</it>, ISAV infection causes cytophatic effect (CPE) in cell lines from Atlantic salmon, leading to rounding and finally detachment of the cells from the substratum. In this study, we investigated the mode of cell death during <it>in vitro </it>ISAV infection in different Atlantic salmon cell lines, using four ISAV strains causing different mortality <it>in vivo</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results show that caspase 3/7 activity increased during the course of infection in ASK and SHK-1 cells, infected cells showed increased surface expression of phosphatidylserine and increased PI uptake, compared to mock infected cells; and morphological alterations of the mitochondria were observed. Expression analysis of immune relevant genes revealed no correlation between in vivo mortality and expression, but good correlation in expression of interferon genes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Results from this study indicate that there is both strain and cell type dependent differences in the virus-host interaction during ISAV infection. This is important to bear in mind when extrapolating <it>in vitro </it>findings to the <it>in vivo </it>situation.</p

Evolutionary mechanisms involved in the virulence of infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV), a piscine orthomyxovirus

AbstractInfectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) is an orthomyxovirus causing a multisystemic, emerging disease in Atlantic salmon. Here we present, for the first time, detailed sequence analyses of the full-genome sequence of a presumed avirulent isolate displaying a full-length hemagglutinin-esterase (HE) gene (HPR0), and compare this with full-genome sequences of 11 Norwegian ISAV isolates from clinically diseased fish. These analyses revealed the presence of a virulence marker right upstream of the putative cleavage site R267 in the fusion (F) protein, suggesting a Q266→L266 substitution to be a prerequisite for virulence. To gain virulence in isolates lacking this substitution, a sequence insertion near the cleavage site seems to be required. This strongly suggests the involvement of a protease recognition pattern at the cleavage site of the fusion protein as a determinant of virulence, as seen in highly pathogenic influenza A virus H5 or H7 and the paramyxovirus Newcastle disease virus

Effectiveness of mRNA booster vaccination against mild, moderate, and severe COVID-19 caused by the Omicron variant in a large, population-based, Norwegian cohort

Background Understanding how booster vaccination can prevent moderate and severe illness without hospitalization is crucial to evaluate the full advantage of mRNA boosters. Methods We followed 85 801 participants (aged 31–81 years) in 2 large population-based cohorts during the Omicron BA.1/2 wave. Information on home testing, PCR testing, and symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was extracted from biweekly questionnaires covering the period 12 January 2022 to 7 April 2022. Vaccination status and data on previous SARS-CoV-2 infection were obtained from national registries. Cox regression was used to estimate the effectiveness of booster vaccination compared to receipt of 2-dose primary series >130 days previously. Results The effectiveness of booster vaccination increased with increasing severity of COVID-19 and decreased with time since booster vaccination. The effectiveness against severe COVID-19 was reduced from 80.9% shortly after booster vaccination to 63.4% in the period >90 days after vaccination. There was hardly any effect against mild COVID-19. The effectiveness tended to be lower among subjects aged ≥60 years than those aged <50 years. Conclusions This is the first population-based study to evaluate booster effectiveness against self-reported mild, moderate, and severe COVID-19. Our findings contribute valuable information on duration of protection and thus timing of additional booster vaccinations.publishedVersio