Breaking down microbial hierarchies.

Microbial communities that degrade natural polysaccharides are thought to have a hierarchical organization and one-way positive interactions from higher to lower trophic levels. Daniels et al. have recently shown that reciprocal interactions between trophic levels can occur and that these interactions change over the duration of a batch culture

Iron status and anemia in a cohort of youths in Northern Norway. The Fit Futures Study

Background: Adolescents are at risk of developing iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) due to rapid growth and sexual maturation. Objectives: Our objectives were to; (1) examine gender-specific distribution of hemoglobin and ferritin, and whether certain lifestyle factors influence on these; (2) describe the prevalence of iron deficiency, iron deficiency anemia and anemia, and; (3) investigate the applicability of the WHO-criteria for anemia in adolescents in our population. Methods: Data is gathered from the Fit Futures survey. The survey was conducted in 2010-2011, inviting 1117 students in first year of upper secondary school, and repeated in 2012-2013 inviting all who participated in the former survey. Participants between ages 15-17 in Fit Futures 1 (FF1), with valid Hemoglobin (Hb) values, ferritin<500 and CRP<10 were included; 813 participants in FF1, 561 participants in Fit Futures 2 (FF2). 505 participants met inclusion criteria in both surveys. Participants were considered anemic if Hb<13 for males and Hb<12 for females (WHO guidelines), and iron deficient if ferritin<12. The prevalence of iron deficiency and anemia was compared across surveys. Results: The prevalence of ID and IDA decreased from 9.5% and 4.9% in FF1 to 6.8% and 3.6% in FF2, respectively. Using the 2.5 percentile for Hb as cut-off, the prevalence of anemia was reduced by two thirds in females (from 20.3% to 6.2% in FF1 and 16.8% to 5.6% in FF2). The male prevalence was practically unchanged. Lifestyle factors (junk food, snacks, sweets, vitamin/mineral supplements, physical activity, menstrual cycle length and BMI-classification) have non-consistent effects on Hb and ferritin. Conclusion: ID is common in female adolescents in Northern Norway. The 2.5 percentile cut-off for anemia corresponds well with the WHO-criteria in males, but not in females. Future research should apply the 2.5 percentile for Hb as cut-off value for anemia in adolescent females

Adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome; a follow-up study displays concurrent improvement of circulatory abnormalities and clinical symptoms

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The pathophysiology of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in adolescents is unknown, and the clinical course and prognosis is still questioned. Recent research indicates that abnormalities of autonomic cardiovascular control may play an important role. The aim of this research project was to perform a follow-up study of adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome, focusing on clinical symptoms and autonomic cardiovascular control.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>47 adolescents (12-18 years old) with CFS were recruited from the outpatient clinic at the Department of Pediatrics, Oslo University Hospital. In a primary visit and a follow-up visit (3-17 months later), we evaluated: a) a wide range of complaints and symptoms and b) cardiovascular variables at baseline and during a 20° head-up tilt-test (HUT).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At the second visit, patients reported significant improvement regarding functional impairments, fatigue severity, muscular pain, concentration problems, post-exertional malaise and the problem of non-relieving rest. Also, at the second visit, baseline heart rate (HR), blood pressure, total peripheral resistance index (TPRI) and LF/HF (low-frequency:high-frequency heart rate variability ratio, an index of sinus node sympathovagal balance derived from spectral analyses of heart rate) were significant lower, and the increases in HR, mean blood pressure (MBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and TPRI during tilt were significantly less pronounced as compared to the first visit. There was a significant correlation between changes in autonomic symptom score, fatigue severity score and functional impairment score from the first to the second visit.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The majority of adolescents with CFS experienced an improvement over time in functional impairment, self-reported fatigue and additional symptoms, and a concurrent improvement of autonomic cardiovascular control. A possible connection between clinical symptoms and abnormal autonomic control in CFS might represent a focus for further research.</p

Tillit i virtuelle team. Hvordan skapes og endres ulike former for tillit i virtuelle team, og hvilke forhold har betydning for å opprettholde tillit over tid?

Temaet for denne avhandlingen er hvordan man skaper tillit i virtuelle team. Problemstillingen er todelt og lyder som følger: Hvordan skapes tillit i virtuelle team, og hvilke forhold har betydning for å opprettholde tillit over tid? Det er benyttet litteraturstudium som metode for å besvare disse spørsmålene. Datautvalget for avhandlingen er 12 artikler hentet fra anerkjente tidsskrifter i perioden 1999 til 2019. Avhandlingens funn viser at den senere forskningen i mye større grad svarer på vår problemstilling enn forskning eldre enn 2003. Vi ser at den eldre forskningens fokus i hovedsak er virtuelle team og tillit som fenomen, og dermed er mye mer generelt enn i nyere forskning. Forskning etter 2003 er mer spisset opp mot hvordan ledere i organisasjoner kan tilrettelegge for best mulig tillitsbygging i virtuelle team. Det presiseres at denne tendensen gjelder vårt litteraturutvalg på 12 artikler. I første del av problemstillingen kommer det frem en rekke funn fra analysen på konkrete tiltak man kan gjøre for å bygge tillit. Her viser forskningen til at man bør bygge kognitiv tillit før man deretter prioriterer affektiv tillit. Videre fant vi mye informasjon om hvordan man spesifikt skal sette sammen, trene og utdanne virtuelle team. I tillegg var det flere funn i analysen i forhold til hvordan virtuelle team er avhengig av de teknologiske hjelpemidlene i denne prosessen. I del to av problemstillingen kom det frem at utviklingen av affektiv tillit bør være hovedfokus. Vi så tydelig at lederen er en avgjørende faktor for å kunne bygge affektiv tillit best mulig innad i virtuelle team. Hvordan lederen styrer og tilrettelegger for teamet, er avgjørende for hvordan affektiv tillit utvikler seg videre. Det kom også frem at bruken av teknologiske hjelpemidler innad i de virtuelle teamene i forbindelse med jobb og sosial kommunikasjon, er kritisk for videre etablering av tillit

Hærens troppssersjanter. Hvilke kompetansekrav er kritiske for å oppnå suksess?

In 2016 a new specialist corps was implemented in the Norwegian Armed Forces. As future troop commanders we wanted to examine how we can contribute to the evaluation, selection and development of this specialist corps. This led to the following thesis statement: What competence requirements are critical for achieving success as a troop sergeant in the Army? By using the qualitative research method Critical Incident Technique, we asked 35 specialists working in the Army to share direct observations of actual troop sergeant behavior. In the analysis, we found the following competencies critical: Collaborative skills, professional competency, experience, ability to identify needs, assessment skills, decision-making skills and being a role model. None of these competencies alone are decisive; Only when they are combined does the troop sergeant achieve success in improving the troops operational capability. The evaluation, selection and development of troop sergeants should therefore be based on an overall assessment of the candidate’s fulfillment of all these competencies. The Norwegian Army´s competency model was found to have dubious practical value in assessing potential sergeants. We recommend that the assessment rather be based on our customized version of the U.S. Army´s Performance Model

Ultrasound and microbubbles to beat barriers in tumors: Improving delivery of nanomedicine

Successful delivery of drugs and nanomedicine to tumors requires a functional vascular network, extravasation across the capillary wall, penetration through the extracellular matrix, and cellular uptake. Nanomedicine has many merits, but penetration deep into the tumor interstitium remains a challenge. Failure of cancer treatment can be caused by insufficient delivery of the therapeutic agents. After intra-venous administration, nanomedicines are often found in off-target organs and the tumor extracellular matrix close to the capillary wall. With circulating microbubbles, ultrasound exposure focused toward the tumor shows great promise in improving the delivery of therapeutic agents. In this review, we address the impact of focused ultrasound and microbubbles to overcome barriers for drug delivery such as perfusion, extravasation, and transport through the extracellular matrix. Furthermore, we discuss the induction of an immune response with ultrasound and delivery of immuno-therapeutics. The review dis-cusses mainly preclinical results and ends with a summary of ongoing clinical trials.publishedVersio

Pain and pressure pain thresholds in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy controls: a cross-sectional study

Objectives: Although pain is a significant symptom in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), pain is poorly understood in adolescents with CFS. The aim of this study was to explore pain distribution and prevalence, pain intensity and its functional interference in everyday life, as well as pressure pain thresholds (PPT) in adolescents with CFS and compare this with a control group of healthy adolescents (HC). Methods: This is a case–control, cross-sectional study on pain including 120 adolescents with CFS and 39 HCs, aged 12–18 years. We measured pain frequency, pain severity and pain interference using self-reporting questionnaires. PPT was measured using pressure algometry. Data were collected from March 2010 until October 2012 as part of the Norwegian Study of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Adolescents: Pathophysiology and Intervention Trial. Results: Adolescents with CFS had significantly lower PPTs compared with HCs (p<0.001). The Pain Severity Score and the Pain Interference Score were significantly higher in adolescents with CFS compared with HCs (p<0.001). Almost all adolescents with CFS experienced headache, abdominal pain and/or pain in muscles and joints. Moreover, in all sites, the pain intensity levels were significantly higher than in HCs (p<0.001). Conclusions: We found a higher prevalence of severe pain among adolescents with CFS and lowered pain thresholds compared with HCs. The mechanisms, however, are still obscure. Large longitudinal population surveys are warranted measuring pain thresholds prior to the onset of CFS

Innovation of a Humanoid Robotic Wrist

Microbial Biotechnolog

Quantification and qualitative effects of different PEGylations on Poly(butyl cyanoacrylate) nanoparticles

Protein adsorption on nanoparticles (NPs) used in nanomedicine leads to opsonization and activation of the complement system in blood, which substantially reduces the blood circulation time of NPs. The most commonly used method to avoid protein adsorption, is to coat the NPs with polyethylene glycol, so called PEGylation. Although PEGylation is of utmost importance for designing the in vivo behavior of the NP, there is still a considerable lack of methods for characterization and fundamental understanding related to the PEGylation of NPs. In this work we have studied four different poly(butyl cyanoacrylate) (PBCA) NPs , PEGylated with different types of PEG-based non-ionic surfactants–Jeffamine M-2070, Brij L23, Kolliphor HS 15, Pluronic F68–or combinations thereof. We evaluated the PEGylation, both quantitatively by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), and qualitatively by studying zeta-potential, protein adsorption, diffusion, cellular interactions and blood circulation half-life. We found that NMR and ToF-SIMS are complementary methods, while TGA is less suitable to quantitate PEG on polymeric NPs. It was found that longer PEG increases both blood circulation time and diffusion of NPs in collagen gels