Whistleblowing and neoliberalism: Political resistance in late capitalist economy

The reigning global market ideology, frequently referred to as neoliberalism, inherently strives for fewer economic regulations in order to create greater wealth for humanity. Whistleblowing, on the other hand, is an action that aims at preserving the conditions and values of the greater common good. Therefore, economic considerations, and human and ethical considerations sometimes collide. In the present globalised economy where neoliberalism endeavours for fewer regulations, workers that oppose wrongdoing at work (i.e. whistleblowers) seem to hold a unique position inbetween governmental interference and singularaction. Whistleblowers are neither sole state regulators nor grass root activists but attempt to effect change from within the organisation. This paper discusses ways in which neoliberalism can influence the act of whistleblowing

Understanding digital disconnection beyond media studies

Digital disconnection or ‘digital detox’ has become a key reference point for media scholars interested in how media technology increasingly gains influence on our everyday lives. Digital disconnection from intrusive media is often intertwined with other types of human conduct, which is less highlighted. There is a potential for media scholars to engage with what seems to be a mainstreaming of digital disconnection from self-help literature via mobile applications to media activism and public debate. In this article, we therefore aim to examine digital disconnection beyond media studies by distilling five common positions: disconnection as health, concentration, existentiality, freedom and sustainability. An underlying theme in all five positions appears to be the notion of responsibilisation, although some of the positions attempt to portray disconnection as a way to ultimately resist such responsibilisation. The article thus aims to spur media scholars to treat digital disconnection as part of broader cultural trends.publishedVersio

Individet slipper fri: selvhjelp, selvmord og depresjon i det senmoderne Kina

I denne artikkelen presenterer vi subjektiverings- og individualiseringsprosesser i Kina de siste 30 årene og drøfter fremveksten av psykologi på bakgrunn av disse skiftene. Parallelt med Kinas særegne utvikling fra en planstyrt til en senkapitalistisk økonomi finner vi tegn på dype strukturelle endringer i idealene for enkeltmennesket som minner om individualiseringsprosesser vi har sett i vestlige land. Ved å ta for oss depresjon, selvmord og selvhjelp i Kina finner vi at den unge middelklassen på mange måter gjennomlever en ââ¬Âny kulturrevolusjonââ¬Â der de må innrette sine liv både etter omgivelsene og tradisjonens forventninger og indre krav til autentisitet og selvrealisering. Behovet for psykologisk ekspertise er derfor økende selv om den herskende diskursen rundt psykiske lidelser og plager fortsatt synes vel så moralistisk som terapeutisk

Unngåelse som mestringsarbeid. En kvalitativ studie av jenters håndtering av sosiale utfordringer i skolen

While the DOI not has been activated yet, the paper can already be read on the journal's webside: https://utdanningogpraksis.no/index.php/up/article/view/3845Mestring er et etablert begrep i arbeidet med å forebygge psykisk uhelse for ungdom. I 2020 kom mestring inn i læreplanen for grunnskolen gjennom det tverrfaglige temaet folkehelse og livsmestring. For å forstå mestring blant ungdom er konteksten og sammenhengen hvor handlingene foregår viktige momenter. I denne studien utforsker vi hva jenter selv gjør for å mestre sosiale utfordringer i skolen. Gjennom en innholdsanalyse av totalt 22 intervjuer med ti jenter om deres hverdag, og ved hjelp av begrepet arbeid, finner vi at jentenes mestringsarbeid er mangfoldig og har ulik intensjon. Unngåelse er et mestringsarbeid som er særlig utbredt. Vi forstår dette som et viktig mestringsarbeid for jentene, og drøfter hvordan våre funn kan utfordre gjengs forståelse av unngåelse. Studien inviterer dermed til en bredere forståelse av hvordan ungdom selv mestrer hverdagen sin, og hva som kan være formålstjenlig mestringsarbeid.publishedVersio

A systematic approach for evaluating the role of surface-exposed loops in trypsin-like serine proteases applied to the 170 loop in coagulation factor VIIa

Proteases play a major role in many vital physiological processes. Trypsin-like serine proteases (TLPs), in particular, are paramount in proteolytic cascade systems such as blood coagulation and complement activation. The structural topology of TLPs is highly conserved, with the trypsin fold comprising two β-barrels connected by a number of variable surface-exposed loops that provide a surprising capacity for functional diversity and substrate specificity. To expand our understanding of the roles these loops play in substrate and co-factor interactions, we employ a systematic methodology akin to the natural truncations and insertions observed through evolution of TLPs. The approach explores a larger deletion space than classical random or directed mutagenesis. Using FVIIa as a model system, deletions of 1–7 amino acids through the surface exposed 170 loop, a vital allosteric regulator, was introduced. All variants were extensively evaluated by established functional assays and computational loop modelling with Rosetta. The approach revealed detailed structural and functional insights recapitulation and expanding on the main findings in relation to 170 loop functions elucidated over several decades using more cumbersome crystallization and single deletion/mutation methodologies. The larger deletion space was key in capturing the most active variant, which unexpectedly had a six-amino acid truncation. This variant would have remained undiscovered if only 2–3 deletions were considered, supporting the usefulness of the methodology in general protease engineering approaches. Our findings shed further light on the complex role that surface-exposed loops play in TLP function and supports the important role of loop length in the regulation and fine-tunning of enzymatic function throughout evolution